The Spitzer School is deeply committed to furthering justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism within the academy and the design professions. As one of the most diverse schools of architecture in the country, SSA works hard to be a hub of innovation that advances racial and gender justice, supports new and emerging voices, and welcomes promising practitioners and academics from historically under-represented groups.

 

Racial Equity Statement

The core of the Spitzer School of Architecture’s JEDI work is our Racial Equity Statement, first published in 2022, which establishes that design and design education are powerful and necessary tools in the pursuit of a just and salubrious environment for all its members.

 

JEDI Initiatives

Almost all activities at the school aim to remediate injustice, repair harm, and act on our commitment to justice through learnining. Selected initiatives include:

• Joining (and contributing to) the Deans’ Equity and Inclusion Initiative (DEII), an organized effort among architecture school deans to mentor junior faculty of color.
• Composing a land acknowledgement that is posted on its website and read at events and meetings.
• Launching the Spitzer Fellowship to support up-and-coming designers, practitioners, planners, spatial activists, advocates, historians, and other academics in their research in architecture, landscape architecture, sustainability, or urban design.
• Partnering with Dark Matter University, bringing racial equity directly to the design studios and into the Sciame lecture series, “Architectures of Care” (fall 2021) and “Radical Black Space” (spring 2022).
• Supporting students through initiatives including Hour SSA, Diversity Hour, Changemaker Scholarships, and the Spitzer Commons.
• Recognizing faculty and staff with awards for mentoring, service, and teaching.

 

JEDI Committee

The school-wide Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, established in 2021, works to develop and catalyze efforts to bring the everyday activities and interactions at the Spitzer School more closely in line with our vision of a fully equal, respectful, and supportive community. The committee is composed of Spitzer students, staff, and faculty who convene regularly to develop specific measures to improve the equity of the school.

2022-2023
Anita Beach
Eliana Dotan
Jerome Haferd
Camille Hall
Frank Melendez
Michael Miller, chair
Nilda Sanchez-Rodriguez
Shawn Rickenbacker
Sean Weiss

2021-2022
Catherine Brizo Saravia
Eliana Dotan
Jeana Fletcher
Jerome Haferd
Camille Hall
Caroline Ho
Frank Melendez
Michael Miller, chair
Shawn Rickenbacker
June Williamson

Spring 2021
Nandini Bagchee
Catherine Brizo Saravia
Marta Gutman, chair
Jeana Fletcher
Camille Hall
Caroline Ho
Vanessa Keith
Frank Melendez
Michael Miller
June Williamson