The iSchool IDEAS Steering Committee plays an active and vital role in promoting and advancing diversity, equity and access in the iSchool, the information profession and field, and beyond.  

Steering Committee Membership

Committee members serve as thought and action partners with the IDEAS Office to identify, create and implement diversity programs, policies and procedures to advance community learning and working experience. IDEAS committee members help identify and address issues and needs of iSchool students, faculty and staff with regard to diversity and inclusion. Committee members advise and make recommendations to help inform the planning and assist with implementation of iSchool diversity programs, policies and activities. Members also serve as ambassadors who represent the iSchool and are advocates for the work of the IDEAS Steering Committee and the Associate Dean for IDEAS.

In the 2024-2025 academic year, the IDEAS Steering Committee will be reduced to a smaller group to realign IDEAS toward the UW Diversity Blueprint. 

Current IDEAS Steering Committee Members

• Nassim Parvin, Associate Dean for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access & Sovereignty, Chair
• Nasim Badrbigi, IDEAS Program Coordinator
• Wes King, Assistant Teaching Professor
• Bernie Liang, IDEAS Program Manager
• Wanda Pratt, Professor

IDEAS Events

Bringing awareness and engagement opportunities to the iSchool Community through events, this committee will work with the IDEAS team to highlight themes relevant to IDEAS and its strategic goals. Our goals:  

• Identify emergent IDEAS topics
• Assist in developing events and activities inclusive of all iSchool sectors
• Bring awareness in honoring iSchool identities
• Plan and implement at least one quarterly IDEAS event

IDEAS Summits

Summits are an annual convening for the iSchool sectors to engage in learning, sharing and dialoguing on IDEAS. Summit formats may be workshops, talks or webinars given by UW folks or our community partners. Activities include: 

• Brainstorm topics/speakers
• Develop agenda

Public Lectures Nominations

We have an opportunity to bring in folks whose work is about IDEAS through Graduate Public Lectures. If you want to support an IDEAS candidate, join us!

By bringing top minds from around the world to the university to teach and speak to the public, the Graduate School and the Walker-Ames, Mangels and Danz Endowments help the university pursue its vital goal of disseminating knowledge.

To further this goal, we’re seeking nominees who can address the most important issues facing society. From the environment to mental health to social justice, we want to talk about it all.

Community Connections

Community Connections provides an opportunity to develop sustaining partnerships with community groups, high schools and others who, in some way, align with the iSchool and IDEAS orientation to promote unity through diversity. This includes outreach to local high schools, particularly those serving historically excluded students.

iBooks & Resources

We are sponsoring an IDEAS effort to introduce and share books, resources and workshops to support building an inclusive iSchool culture.

Faculty Hiring

The iSchool is growing at a fair clip. This means that the hiring of faculty to support our growth is ongoing. This subcommittee will work with faculty teams to infuse the process with IDEAS with meaningful support, which may include:

• Help interview all candidates for at least one faculty position
• Faculty evaluation pointers
• Potential for other assessors