Duke German Diversity Statement

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Our department endeavors to cultivate a diverse and inclusive environment, to promote a welcoming and respectful climate for all to pursue German Studies, and to incorporate members and work of under-represented groups in our pedagogy, research, and recruitment.

Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual countries, with large immigrant groups from many different areas of the world, such as the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Africa. Over a quarter of all Germans have at least one foreign-born parent, and, among school-age children, almost 40% of the population have at least one foreign-born parent. The German Studies department seeks to highlight and honor this contemporary diversity in its curriculum and extracurricular programs, both on the Duke campus in Durham and in Duke in Berlin.

We are very aware that modern German history, including in particular the period of Nationalist Socialist rule and genocidal terror, is inextricably interlaced with civil discrimination and violence as well as state policies, laws, and actions against those rendered Other: Jews, Roma and Sinti, racialized and colonialized others, the disabled, homosexuals, members of political parties and movements, etc. Our department confronts this dark history directly as a central part of our teaching and our research.

With this cultural and historical context in mind, we in the Department of German Studies at Duke University are committed to fostering a hospitable and supportive learning environment for all members of our academic and professional community, regardless of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, health or disability status, citizenship status, political affiliation, age, or socio-economic background.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC) of the Department of German Studies at Duke University is a standing committee drawn from faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students. The purpose of the DEIC is to support Duke University’s commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as the ongoing efforts of the German Studies community to maintain a welcoming environment for all, including members of under-represented and marginalized groups. To this end, the DEIC is tasked with collecting, assessing, and reporting data as well as developing actionable plans on issues pertaining to climate, diversity, equity, and inclusion within the department. The DEIC meets at least once per semester and is comprised of: the Director of Undergraduate Studies, the Language Program Director, one graduate student from the Carolina-Duke Graduate Program in German Studies, and one undergraduate student. It reports to the Department Chair and informs the department faculty at its routine meetings on its progress and recommended actions to improve in any of the four areas listed above.

Current members: 

Henry Pickford (Director of Undergraduate Studies): henry.pickford@duke.ed

April Henry (Language Program Director): april.henry@duke.edu

Kajal Mukhopadhyay (graduate student): kajal.mukhopadhyay@duke.edu

Nina Zhang (undergraduate student); nina.zhang@duke.edu

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Resources

Resources for Students 

 Duke-SACNAS: The Duke University Chapter of SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) is a student group dedicated to fostering the success of Hispanic/Chicano and Native American scientists in science.

·       Duke University Black Student Alliance: The Duke University Black Student Alliance promotes academic achievement and intellectual pursuit, cultivates dynamic leadership, and strives to eliminate social barriers for all.  Ultimately, the Black Student Alliance recognizes the humanity of others and demands that they do the same.

·       Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity: The Duke Student Affairs - Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity is committed to achieving an inclusive campus climate for students, staff, faculty, and alumni with marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions through education, advocacy, support, mentoring, academic engagement, and providing space.

·       Duke University Center for Muslim Life: Duke University Center for Muslim Life is committed to enriching the lives of Muslim students and the whole campus through events and activities that cater to the spiritual, social, and intellectual needs of Duke students.

·       Jewish Life at Duke: Jewish Life at Duke, including the Freeman Center for Jewish Life, empowers students to learn and grow intellectually and spiritually, to inspire and nurture personal paths to Jewish identity, and to cultivate community and friendship.

·       Bridging Opportunities & Networking in Diversity (BOND) Council: Bridging Opportunities & Networking in Diversity (BOND) Council is a collaboration of student leaders from graduate level organizations who offer programming, service, and social events within the Duke Medicine community. The goal of the council is to support and foster inter-professional collaboration and innovation while providing peer to peer mentoring.

·      Duke International Student Center: Duke International Student Center provides educational programs, services, and advocacy to the Duke global community on campus as well as outreach to the greater Durham area.  They also offer extensive cross-cultural information and training to enhance the diversity mission of the university.

·      Center for Multicultural Affairs: the Center for Multicultural Affairs is committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive campus environment. They embolden students to examine their intersections of identity, to think critically about diversity and social justice, and to utilize their unique and collective voices to enact positive change.

·       Duke University Career Center: The Duke University Career Center assists students in their journey of career development and job-related pursuits. Toward this end, they have curated a resource hub to provide information for Duke undergraduate and graduate students. The Career Center values and acknowledges the importance of recognizing intersectionality and diversity within groups and encourages students and alumni to explore all resources with which they identify.

Resources Campus-Wide

·       Duke Office for Institutional Equity: The Duke Office for Institutional Equity provides institutional leadership in enhancing respectful, diverse, and inclusive work and learning environments for the Duke community. The Duke Office for Institutional Equity offers a range of services that uphold values of equity and diversity as well as support compliance efforts in the areas of equal opportunity, affirmative action, and harassment prevention.

·       Duke HR Diversity & Institutional Equity Policies​: The Duke HR Diversity & Institutional Equity Policies offers comprehensive details about Duke’s Human Resources policies regarding diversity and institutional equity.

·       Multicultural Resources Center: The Multicultural Resources Center at the Duke School of Medicine assists with the preparation of learners, staff, and faculty to work and live in a world of diverse people who differ along the lines of culture, faith, gender, sexuality, and socio-economic backgrounds.

·       Duke’s Samuel Dubois Cook Society: The mission of the Society is to recognize, to celebrate, and to affirm the presence of African American students, faculty, and staff at Duke University.

·       Duke Health Disparities Consortium (DHDC): The Duke Health Disparities Consortium (DHDC) is an interdisciplinary consortium of Duke faculty, staff and learners (students, residents, fellows) who are engaged/interested in health disparities work.

·       Diversity Toolkit: Diversity Toolkit is a one-stop resource for diversity education.