2026-2027
Committee Roster
Skylar Cooper, Colorado, Chair (skylar AT upcolorado DOT com)
Tristan Bates, Penn State
Susie Chavez, Stanford
Emily Feng, Washington
Kayowa Gibson-Tshilenge, Pennsylvania
Mary Lui, Toronto
Deirdre Mullervy, Gallaudet
Shalini Nanayakkara, British Columbia
Yelba Quinn, Brookings
Whitney Rauenhorst, MIT
Board Liaison
Davida Breier, Johns Hopkins
Central Office Liaisons
Dylan Fritz
Brenna McLaughlin
Charge
General Objective:
- Support the development and implementation of programs and resources that uphold the Association’s core value of equity & inclusion and that increase equity, justice, inclusion, and belonging throughout the AUPresses community; prioritize support for BIPOC colleagues and those from other under-represented communities. Ensure that the committee includes a good sampling of press sizes and roles.
Specific Charges to the Equity, Justice, Inclusion, & Belonging Committee:
- Sponsor one-to-three virtual events that address concerns brought forward in discussions with other committees and the AUPresses staff and board.
- Consult as requested with the Acquisitions Editorial Committee in their effort to develop information on peer reviewing work about Indigenous communities and other marginalized groups, including collaborating on a Peer Review Week event on the topic.
- Host a Fall meeting for committee liaisons to EJIB.
- To the extent possible and within the limits of meeting planning milestones, review the Annual Meeting program for its effectiveness through the EJIB lens.
- Continue to evaluate the AUPresses’ list of EJIB resources to ensure that links are live and the latest resources are available.
- Review and, to the extent possible implement recommendations from last year’s EJIB committee’s final report.
Common Charges to All Committees of the Association:
- Submit reports on Committee activities to the Association Board in time for its October, March, and June meetings. Interim reports are due on 12 October 2026, and 26 February 2027; final reports that recap all committee activities for the year and are shared with the membership are due 31 May 2027. Follow guidelines for preparing reports found in the Chair Handbook in the Committee and Task Force Chairs Group on UP Commons.
- Follow all guidelines and requirements published in the AUPresses Chair Handbook, including those regarding the use of UP Commons, inclusion of board and staff liaisons, scheduling webinars & hangouts, and any research or survey projects.
- Appoint a member of your committee, ideally not the chair or cochair, to serve as a liaison to the Equity, Justice, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee. This role provides updates on your committee’s efforts in support of equity and inclusion, seeks information, support, or guidance on EJIB matters as needed, and attends a Fall meeting for liaisons hosted by EJIB Committee.
- Prior to the deadline for the annual meeting Call for Proposals, suggest one or more panel or speaker ideas to the Annual Meeting Program Committee.
- Consider nominating a member of your committee, or a member of the community with whom your committee interacts, for the AUPresses Constituency Award when announced.
- Review your General Objective and Specific Tasks at the end of the service year and recommend changes for next year to the Executive Director.