Diversity Committee

The Diversity Committee is a group of people engaged in critical conversations about multicultural issues within ourselves, within the group, and in the community around us. Our mission is to equip individuals for educating, mentoring, serving, and actively engaging in opportunities that challenge stereotyped beliefs and create an atmosphere of openness, curiosity, inspiration, responsibility and concern for others.

The Diversity Committee was formed out of a need to engage University of Memphis graduate students in active dialogue on diversity issues. It has been many things over the years including a space for students to examine their own views, biases, and assumptions with support from peers, as well as a resource within the department to spearhead multicultural activities. The Diversity Committee aims to illuminate multiculturalism through explicit conversation within the campus community and active service to the community. Through our mission we also hope to be an integral catalyst for the training of internationally competent professionals steeped in the knowledge of social justice issues.

The Diversity Committee is housed in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research. Membership is open to any University of Memphis graduate student who is committed to the mission stated above regardless of their department. Please feel free to join us at a meeting or contact the committee officers for more information!

Connect with us!

• Committee Email: UofMDiversity@gmail.com
• Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheDiversityCommittee

Upcoming Events

Calendar

Future events will be planned throughout the year – Keep Your Eyes out for Emails!!

Diversity Committee Executive Board: 

Daniel Cruz Lattimore, President (He/him/his)
daniel.lattimore@memphis.edu
Daniel Cruz Lattimore is a doctoral candidate in the University of Memphis Counseling Psychology Doctoral program. His research interests include the functionality of humor in workplace settings, resilience of communities and diverse populations, and stress moderation. In all aspects of his life, he looks to encourage relationships through compassion and strategy. He is a proud member of APA Divisions 10, 13, 14, 17, 27, and 52. When he’s not working on his dissertation, you can find him practicing Latin dance steps or watching Marvel movies.

Paige Dixon, Vice President (She/her/hers)
pdixon4@memphis.edu
Paige Dixon is the vice president of the Diversity Committee for 2020-2021 academic year. Prior to coming to the University of Memphis, Paige served as the Experimental Psychology Masters representative in the Diversity Committee in the Psychology Department at Georgia Southern University. Paige has been involved with the Diversity Committee since she started her first semester of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in 2018. During her time with the Diversity Committee, Paige has served as the Clinical Mental Health Counseling representative and the Vice President for the 2019-2020 academic year. Paige hails most recently from southern, rural Georgia, but has lived in small and large cities up and down the eastern coast of the United States. Paige will be graduating from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in the August 2020 and will be entering the Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral program in the Fall of 2020. Paige has been inspired by the amazing committee members that she has been able to work with who have encouraged her and challenged her to grow. Together, the DC members have continued to develop and expand the Diversity Committee and its impact on the university and the community. Paige looks forward to getting started with the new academic year and seeing the DC step up for social justice and the needs of our community.

Kathryn Winsley, Secretary (She/her/hers)
kwinsley@memphis.edu
Kathryn Winsley is a Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student from Brandon, Mississippi. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a double minor in Criminal Justice & Sociology from the University of Southern Mississippi. From there, Kathryn moved on to receive her Master’s degree in General Psychology from the University of Memphis. Kathryn has a life-long passion for volunteerism, civility, advocacy, and diversity.

Meera Patel, Treasurer (She/her/hers)
mbpatel@memphis.edu
Meera Patel is a Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student and will be serving as the Treasurer to the Diversity Committee for the 2020-2021 school year. She is a Masters’ graduate of Lincoln Memorial University Counseling program with a specialization in Mental Health Counseling. She completed her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Information Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her ongoing clinical research interests include addictive disorders, criminal behavior, and personality disorders. In her free time, she spends time with her two African Grey parrots and dog.

Raven Cohen, Event Coordinator (She/her/hers)
rcohen2@memphis.edu
Raven Cohen is a second-year student in the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program and will be serving as the Event Coordinator to the Diversity Committee for the 2020-2021 school year. She previously graduated with Master’s degrees in School Psychology and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Rhode Island and University of Memphis, respectively. Raven is currently a graduate assistant in inclusion and sexual diversity in the Office of Multicultural Affairs where she works to create and maintain a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment for LGBTQIA+ students. Outside of her professional life, Raven enjoys spending time with her two rescue dogs, spending time outdoors, and skating with Memphis Roller Derby. Raven looks forward to collaborating with committee members to create opportunities that help build and maintain cultural competency.

Previous events include:

Diversity Committee Events Fall 2019-Spring 2020:

• Working with religious LGBTQ populations, Dr. Tyler Lefevor, Rhodes College
• Attended Midsouth Pride Festival as a group, downtown Memphis
• Working with immigrant populations, Angela Rusk, M.A., Exchange Club/Kindred Place
• Counselors in Living Color, Black History Month Event, U of M
• St. Jude Marathon Volunteers: Spirit Stations

Prospective members can email Daniel C. Lattimore (dclttmre@memphis.edu), look at our Diversity Committee Facebook page, or look for the Diversity Committee emails that come out over the CEPR listserv for more information.