Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism Leadership
IDEAL Academy

Renee Navarro adresses the IDEAL Academy attendees, February 10, 2023

About Us

The program is designed for faculty and staff leaders across UCSF with the goal of fostering collaboration by bringing together scholars to share insights, ideas, and strategies in anti-discrimination work. The institute also seeks to advance knowledge and innovation through research, creative thinking, and practice-based contributions. By strengthening scholars’ skills, growth, and expertise with resources and mentorship, IDEAL supports leadership development while also building lasting networks of trust that promote collaboration, democracy, and excellence.

Renee Navarro adresses the IDEAL Academy attendees, February 10, 2023
Aimee Medeiros, the Faculty Lead for IDEAL
Aimee Medeiros, the Faculty Lead for IDEAL

Curriculum

The 2026 IDEAL Academy places an emphasis on exploring the full scope of academic freedom and identifying new approaches to support free speech. In addition, upon completion of the institute scholars will be able to:

  • Navigate laws and policies while honoring UCSF’s legacy in non-discrimination and its commitment to democracy and belonging
  • Design professional action plans that enhance leadership skills and support meaningful career pathways within academic health centers
  • Advance research, education, and patient care through historically informed, anti-discrimination, and climate-responsive strategies and practices
  • Build and strengthen professional networks that foster trust, collaboration, and adaptability to drive equity-focused innovation and a sustainable community of practice

Participants will receive a certificate of completion.

SESSION 1

Foundations of DEI infrastructure, policies & initiatives at UCSF

  • Climate at UCSF – results and reactions to the 2021 Climate Survey
  • Improving climate for 3 UCSF communities: transgender and non-binary, disabilities, and Black/African Americans
  • Importance of advancing DEI and how to support/advance the work

SESSION 2

DEI, Academic Advancement & Strategic Planning

  • DEI and the academic advancement process: acceleration in Department of Medicine
  • DEI within the Department of Neurology's strategic process
  • Leading with kindness

SESSION 3

Analyzing Anti-Blackness, White Racism, & White Supremacy Culture as American Value Systems

  • Historical and social foundations of structural racism and anti-Blackness in America
  • Modern-day impact on interpersonal communication and behavior

SESSION 4

Examining the History & Pervasiveness of Racism & the Practice of Anti-Racism in the Health Sciences

  • Describe the history of racism, scholarly activism, and REPAIR at UCSF
  • Demonstrate the pervasiveness of racism in health sciences
  • Define the practice of anti-racism in the health sciences

SESSION 5

A Changing Enterprise

  • Efforts in the diversification of faculty and managers
  • Effective communications and building collaborative relationships

Capstone Projects

IDEAL participants may further their engagement with IDEAL by choosing to collaborate on a Capstone project during the program. Guiding goals for the projects include leveraging diversity leaders' expertise in academic advancement, scholarship, and Anti-Racism Initiative programs, and elevation and standardization of contributions to DEI.

Cognizant of the common burden that minoritized groups face to advance this type of work, the IDEAL Academy provides diversity leaders protected time – within the confines of each of the sessions – and a small stipend to those who engage in this additional work.

Here are a few Capstone projects completed by our diversity leaders:

Developing standard criteria for accelerated advancement across departments.
TEAM: Alejandra de Alba Campomanes, Meghan Morris, Melissa Zimel, Starr Knight.

Developing DEI standard job descriptions for Department Diversity Leaders.
TEAM: Jean Calvo, Michelle Porche, Sanziana Roman, Stephanie Brown.

Inventory of DEI and Anti-Racism innovations across UCSF.
TEAM: George Taylor, Jose Gurrola, Odi Ehie, Sarah Garrett.

IDEAL Acadamy participants present their Capstone project

Participants

The inaugural group to graduate from the IDEAL Academy participated in the program from February to June 2023.

 

IDEAL Academy graduates, June 2023

Testimonials

"As a new leader in this space (and staff), [IDEAL] was intimidating at first, but I felt so included and welcomed from the beginning… It was an amazing cohort full of people with so much knowledge and willingness to share how they were able to accomplish certain things. I am forever grateful to be able to extend my network of dedicated UCSF change makers. Together we can."

Verónica Noemí Álvarez, MPA, PMP

Verónica Noemí Álvarez, MPA, PMP

Vice Chair of Opportunity & Structural Change, Dept. of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

"Wow! what an amazing experience. Each session was extremely well organized and executed. Each speaker was prepared and delivered their information in a manner that was very useful and effective for future practice. Secondly, I enjoyed meeting new faculty and staff from across the university that I may not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet or network with."

Cherrie B. Boyer, PhD

Cherrie B. Boyer, PhD

Professor Emeritus,
Dept. of Pediatrics

"The IDEAL Academy gave me the wonderful opportunity to meet other people at UCSF who share similar concerns, life experiences, and visions for the future…I expect much more collaboration in the future across schools and am hopeful that we are more of a collective movement now."

Mica Estrada

Mica Estrada

Professor and Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion & Outreach,
School of Nursing