Celebrating Our LGBTQ+ Community

dean's messages

A. James Clark School of Engineering Interim Dean Robert M. Briber sent the following email to the Clark School community today:

Clark School Community,

“We envision the University of Maryland as a fully equitable community that empowers innovators and agents of social justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.” - LGBT Equity Center

We are approximately five weeks away from the Summer Olympics where we will see excellence from athletes from across the world. Regardless of sport — water polo, running relays, gymnastics and more — diversity anchors a great team: People with different backgrounds and experiences coming together for the greater good.

Engineering is a team profession. Like any great team, we — and the solutions we design — are made better through diversity, equity and inclusion. During Pride Month, let us therefore recognize the crucial role LGBTQ+ engineers play in our profession, and support practices and resources to address the challenges they face.

Non-LGBTQ+ individuals, for example, can learn more about putting inclusive practices to work, like language and classroom procedures. LGBTQ+ individuals can learn about campus groups. In Engineering, we also echo our university’s leaders in condemning oppression against our transgender community.

We are fortunate to learn and work at a place with an active and engaged LGBTQ+ community. Let us keep working towards the Equity Center’s goal, and doing our part as engineers to promote a more just and equitable society for all.

Sincerely,

Robert Briber, Interim Dean
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
A. James Clark School of Engineering

Published June 16, 2021