As members of the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Student Ambassadors program, we aim to foster an inclusive climate for everyone who is part of the university. We believe it is our duty to serve our peers and ensure each and every one of them feels heard and safe as a member of the Charger community.
As the university honors Transgender Day of Remembrance, an observance honoring the memory of transgender people who lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence, we, the JEDI Ambassadors, believe there is more work to be done. As a reminder to all of Charger Nation, failing to affirm people’s identities is, too, an act of violence.
It has come to our attention that there have been reported incidents of misgendering, dead naming and acknowledgement of our peers using incorrect names. We consider such occurrences steps backward despite the progress the university has made to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging. We stand with the students, faculty and staff who have experienced this invalidation of who they are. You all belong here.
Misgendering, deadnaming mispronunciation and misspelling of people’s names can lower their self-esteem and negatively impact their mental health. As a community, we strive to uplift and respect one another, and provide a safe and inclusive environment for all members of the university. We can achieve this goal by making a conscious effort to respect chosen names, pronouns and identities of those we work, learn, live and grow with each day.
As JEDI Ambassadors, our advocacy and leadership span across all five colleges. If anyone is in need of any support, please reach out to any one of us. Our office hours are located on our Instagram and our emails are listed below.
Signed by:
Angela Carter (she/her), BS in Business Management – 2024, [email protected]
Morgan Fitch (none/they/he), MS in Cellular & Molecular Biology – 2024, [email protected]
Peri Alexander (she/her), BS in Health Sciences – 2023, [email protected]
Kameron Evans (he/him), BS in Chemical Engineering – 2026, [email protected]
Ciara Wildes (they/them), 4+1 BS in Criminal Justice, MS National Security – 2024, [email protected]
Nox Garner (they/them), BS in Forensic Science – 2026, [email protected]
Ruth Kameswara Rao (she/her), MPH in Public Health – 2023, [email protected]
Instagram: @unewhavenjedi