2025-2026
Committee Roster
Shalini Nanayakkara, British Columbia, Chair (nanayakkara AT ubcpress DOT ca)
Tristan Bates, Penn State
Milo Brooks, Florida
Susie Chavez, Stanford
Skylar Cooper, Colorado
Emily Feng, Washington
Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero, Guam
Mary Lui, Toronto
Yelba Quinn, Brookings
Board Liaison
Walter Biggins, Pennsylvania
Central Office Liaison
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.
Specific Charges to the Equity, Justice, Inclusion, & Belonging Committee:
- Organize collaborations and events for members and work with other committees to embed equity, justice, inclusion, and belonging in their work. 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.
- 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 10 October 2025, and 27 February 2026; final reports that recap all committee activities for the year and are shared with the membership are due 22 May 2026. 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.
- On or after the date of the first interim report, 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.