Hello Pratt Community,

I would like to extend warm greetings to all of our incoming and returning students, postdocs, staff, and faculty. Please know that you are invited to attend our Welcome Back to Pratt event on September 6 (find details below). This goes for you especially if we haven't yet met!

One piece of advice that I plan to utilize as we begin this semester is from an auto-response that I received over the summer: “…I will be intentionally slow to respond to emails as I prioritize rest and self-care.”

Now, when I first received this email notification, I was shocked. Most auto-responses are brief in nature, communicating that a person is on a vacation or at a conference. But this message not only stated that the person would intentionally delay their response, but that doing so would allow them to put their self-care over their work. While self-care is something we should practice automatically, sometimes we need a reminder. Thus, as we move into August, let’s be reminded to find ways to openly prioritize our self-care.

If you have questions or suggestions, please contact me.

Karis Boyd-Sinkler
Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Engineering

The Duke Engineering Future Faculty of Innovation and Excellence (DEFINE) program was created to build on the success of the Council of Graduate Schools' initial future faculty program. DEFINE consists of a two-day experience for the most promising graduate and postdoctoral students who are strongly interested in pursuing a faculty position at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering. During the program, participants will experience a variety of workshops, formal presentations, and mentoring sessions that demystify the job process and focus on building strong relationships with future colleagues and collaborators. Participants will develop a comprehensive career plan that includes feedback on their application materials and strategies for setting themselves apart from their peers during the job search process.

Learn more and apply »

The last Cultural Conversation of the summer examines the documentary Learn with Love, part of the LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention Organization’s Initiative to Protect Transgender and Nonbinary Young People. The documentary short film features the compelling stories of three transgender young people and adults in their lives.

Sign up for Cultural Conversations »

If you have any questions, please contact Quiana Tyson »

Monday, August 7
10:00 am-11:00 am | Wilkinson 321

Sign up »

Wednesday, August 16
2:00 pm-3:00 pm | Mumma Commons (Fitzpatrick 3121)

Sign up »

OIT has recently launched a revamp of their web accessibility site. The website includes a “how to” section that can assist you in making your website more inclusive, whether you are a content creator or developer. Duke’s Web Accessibility team can also perform a free assessment of your website to ensure that it is in compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA.   

The vision of the Maclin Fund is that no eligible Pratt School of Engineering undergraduate should miss out on educational growth because of costs not covered by financial aid. (Attending a conference, flying to an interview, taking a workshop, or repairing a computer, for example.) The fund was created through the generosity of Valecia Maclin E’92.

Learn more and apply »

The WIN Empowerment Fund was created through the generosity of the Pratt School of Engineering group within the Duke Women's Impact Network (WIN), whose mission is to encourage leadership and philanthropy among women and the friends of WIN. The WIN Empowerment Fund makes direct and positive impacts on the lives of financial-aid-receiving students by helping cover expenses such as graduate exam and application fees or professional attire.

Learn more and apply »

See more at pratt.duke.edu/about/diversity/resources#events

Wednesday, August 9
4:00 pm-5:00 pm | Virtual

Hosted by DCI Cancer Research Training & Education Coordination and the School of Medicine Office of Equity Diversity and Inclusion

Wednesday, September 6
3:00 pm-5:00 pm | Harrington Engineering Quad

Hosted by the Pratt DEIC Committee and the Engineering Dean's Office

Saturday, October 7
9:00 am-6:30 pm | NCSU McKimmon Center

Hosted by the Center for Child and Family Policy, Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity and Sanford School of Public Policy

Highlighted below is a non-exhaustive list of holidays, celebrations, and events. Would you like to have a holiday listed? Please contact us with your suggestion!

A day commemorating the immense contributions that Indigenous people have made to the world. The theme this year is Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination.

A day commemorating the appreciation of humanitarian work. The theme this year is The Human Race with the slogan, “It takes a village.”

A day commemorating the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the importance of the women's suffrage movement, and ongoing efforts toward expanding equal rights.

Director of Diversity & Inclusion in Engineering

karis.boydsinkler@duke.edu

office hours

Members of the Pratt DEIC committee are listed at pratt.duke.edu/about/diversity/deic