University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty, post-doctorate scholars and graduate students lead and are involved in externally and internally funded projects, that explore issues related to diversity, inclusion and equity. Hence, this page is dedicated to recognizing the exemplary research that promotes inclusive excellence in our communities. To be considered for having your work featured, please fill the submission form. You may also nominate other scholars using the nomination form. When selected, awardee/nominee will be notified within 2 weeks of submission. For questions, please email diversity@unl.edu.
Research Highlights
Truth & Reconciliation for Native Americans in the United States
Focus
To research and write a book asking how the United States can confront and take responsibility for the human rights abuses against indigenous children, their families and nations.
REU Site: Social Network Analysis for Solving Minority Health Disparities
Investigator
Kirk Dombrowski (PI)
Sociology
Bilal Khan (Co-PI)
Sociology
Funding Agency
National Science Foundation
Focus
This project is funded from the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites program in the SBE Directorate. It has both scientific and societal benefits, and integrates research and education. This site stimulates undergraduate students' interest in social network analysis (SNA) and behavioral health with a focus on minority health disparities. Participants undergo an extensive methodological training in SNA by the project PI while gaining exposure to a range of research topics and potential science research fields.
Collaborative Research: How military service and benefits shapes STEM career trajectories
Focus
The project will advance scientists' understanding of STEM career trajectories by exploring the historical and contemporary role of the U.S. military as a potential career pathway. Specifically, the project analyzes the impact of educational benefits associated with military service (GI Bill), plus the role of individual and workplace factors on people's educational and occupational outcomes.
Statewide effort to diversify undergraduate engineering student population.
Investigator
David Jones (PI)
Department Head Biological Systems Engineering
Sohrab Asgarpoor (Co-PI)
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, Professor Of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Lance Pérez (Co-PI)
Dean, College of Engineering Omar H. Heins Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Patricia Wonch Hill (Co-PI)
Research Assistant Professor, Sociology
Funding Agency
National Science Foundation
Focus
This project seeks to investigate a framework that reassesses admissions criteria to deemphasize standardized tests by considering a holistic perspective of a student's academic experience. Research shows that putting too much weight on standardized tests results in a misrepresentation of a student's actual potential for academic success. Students, particularly students of color and women, are often negatively impacted by stereotype threat which has been shown to result in lower test scores. Therefore, test scores do not accurately reflect a student's ability.
Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics
Investigator
Christine Kelley (PI)
Associate Professor, Dept of Mathematics
Glenn Ledder (Co-PI)
Dept of Mathematics
Alexander Zupan (Co-PI)
Assistant Professor, Dept of Mathematics
Funding Agency
Focus
The 22nd iteration of the Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics (NCUWM) will be hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from January 31st through February 2nd, 2020, while the 23rd and 24th installments will take place in late January or early February in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Women remain an underrepresented population in the mathematical sciences, and the mission of the conference is to encourage and support undergraduate women mathematics majors in order to help them pursue graduate education and careers in mathematics.
Multicultural and Diversity Research Services
University Libraries strives to support and fulfill the information needs of university community members engaged in multicultural and diversity research. The Diversity Committee and other faculty and staff support research in the following programs as well as other related areas of research:
- Institute for Ethnic Studies programs
- Women and Gender Studies, including LGBTQ/Sexuality Studies
A University Libraries web page provides the links to multicultural and diversity research tools, digital and physical collections, programs, and services.
Chair
Dr. Charlene Maxey-Harris
Diversity Committee chair
Diversity librarians
- Ethnic studies- Toni Anaya
- International Studies- Suping Lu
- Judaic Studies, Religious Studies- Kathleen Johnson
- Women & Gender Studies- Elizabeth Lorang
Academic Programs
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers many opportunities for students to explore issues related to diversity and inclusion in formal educational settings, from individual courses to various degree programs. Visit the Academic Programs webpage for a list of some of those opportunities. Additional information may be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin and the Graduate Bulletin.
Diversity and Inclusion Research Collaborations
Trans Collaborations
Since its origin in 2014, Trans Collaborations is a community-based partnership between University of Nebraska-led researchers, transgender and gender diverse people. It is a community-directed partnership which aims to provide evidence-based guidance, education, and research to meet health-related needs of transgender and gender diverse people in typically under served locations.
Minority Health Disparities Initiative (MHDI)
Founded in 2012, the initiative is intended to strengthen the infrastructure of services available to faculty researching minority health disparities. It also builds networks of researchers to address a broad range of critical health issues in the state and nation. The initiative now counts a core research group of 10 faculty from departments across the university, including psychology, sociology, communication studies, nutrition and health services, and child, and youth and family studies.
Latinx Mental Health and Treatment Outcomes Lab (LMHT)
LMHT focuses on finding better ways to understand and improve mental health equity, particularly for Latinx and Spanish-speaking populations. This work centers on mechanisms that disparately impact marginalized populations, including traumatic event exposure and discrimination.
Center for Great Plains Studies
Established in 1976 at the University of Nebraska, the mission of the Center is to foster the study of and appreciation for the people, cultures, and natural environment of the Great Plains.
Race and Ethnic Bias Lab
The research in the lab is focused on the social cognitive processes and motivations that accompany race, ethnicity, conflict and well-being. Our research examines the origins of "racial" and ethnic stereotypes and their influence on the processing of social information and interpretation of social behavior.
Migration and Multiculturalism (M&M) Research Interest Group
The M&M group is a group of scholars who have research interests relating to Multiculturalism and Migration. The group started a couple of years ago with some assistance from the Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Consortium (SBSRC).