University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is one of four consortium members that is also a Sloan University Center for Exemplary Mentoring. Learn here about the impacts of participating in EGE as shared by campus liaison Dr. Lisa Abston, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

What has been one of the most important benefits of participating in the Consortium for UIUC?

Participating in the consortium has strengthened our approach to advocating for the use of rubrics as a holistic review tool by our graduate programs. The Graduate College has offered a Holistic Review Toolkit since 2021. Each year, we employ departments to examine the toolkit and consider using rubrics and other features. EGE has provided workshops that are engrained with research data and results. Sharing the EGE workshops leads to more strategic decision making around equitable admission practices by our participating departments.

UIUC has been a Sloan UCEM institution, too. How are you stitching these efforts together?

At the time of joining the EGE Consortium, we received notification of approval of our final resubmission grant proposal from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. We’ve supported and nurtured the development of 152 Sloan UCEM Scholars at Illinois in the past 9 years. The EGE Consortium has provided essential strategies and resources to engage faculty. These lessons have been vital as we prepare to institutionalize the Sloan UCEM program. Offering faculty workshops with an equity-minded lens is important to ensure successful mentoring relationships with students.

Tell us a few words about one of the EGE programs at UIUC that is visibly growing and changing through their participation in the consortium. Where did it start, what is it doing, and what do you anticipate from it in 2024?

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN) has grown significantly in their approach to ensuring an equitable admissions process. Prior to their participation in the EGE Consortium, review of applications was completed by a single faculty reviewer, and evaluations varied between reviewers. FSHN has developed an admissions committee that consists of 6 members with diverse perspectives. Also, the department developed a rubric they’ve implemented for this year. In 2024, I anticipate the department will continue to explore ways of refining their admissions practices while executing strategies garnered from the consortium.

“They say that freedom is a constant struggle,” the classic song goes. What do you do for self-care as you participate in the struggle against inequities and injustices?

The emotional toll that often accompanies the struggle against inequities and injustices is not something I take lightly. Self-care for me includes meditating, spending time with family and friends, and setting boundaries. Reflecting on my experiences helps me process my emotions and focus my thoughts on things I have the power to change. The support from family and friends is immeasurable. They provide two important aspects, comfort, and humor. Boundaries ensure I’m being mindful of all areas of my life which leads to greater fulfillment.