Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

The DEI consortium will represent the Physical Therapy (PT) Academic Community including program directors, faculty, DCEs, resident/fellowship directors or faculty, possibly students and PTAs as advisory members. Geographically, membership is open to anyone in ACAPT. We encourage every ACAPT member institution to have at least one DEI consortium member.

Purpose: The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consortium’s purpose is to promote real change that supports increased accessibility and opportunities for everyone in Education and Profession of Physical Therapy. The DEI consortium will promote increased accessibility, inclusion, acceptance of differences, and opportunities for all stakeholders involved in PT education.

Vision: The consortium envisions a diverse, equitable, and inclusive physical therapy community where all members are respected and valued for their unique differences and inherent worth, in an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust, and civility.

Mission: The consortium seeks to examine biases, assumptions, and world views in effort to nurture a progressive community that will promote the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence for the education and profession of physical therapy.

Core Value Statement: The consortium is committed to informing and empowering its members and the physical therapy profession to be agents of real change who are committed to being responsive to our stakeholders in order to improve the health and well-being of diverse populations, communities, and individuals.

Join the Consortium

DEI consortium objectives are:

Promote the value and importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the education and practice of physical therapy.
Develop strategies and tools to enhance and guide a diverse physical therapy curriculum and practice through evidenced based presentations and/or publications.
Create a pipeline for careers in physical therapy among underrepresented minority groups to promote the number of students seeking application and acceptance in doctor of physical therapy programs through education, community involvement, and mentoring.
Provide and sustain a national forum for physical therapy academic and clinical partners to engage in difficult conversations that center on diversity, equity, and inclusion as both an asset and barrier to real change that can be measured and sustained.
Work in congruence with the recommendations from the Diversity Task Force report, as it relates to the recruitment of minority students and faculty.

The ACAPT DEI Consortium Business Meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, April 21 from 7:30 - 9:00 pm EST.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://pacificu.zoom.us/j/97726784474

Meeting ID: 977 2678 4474
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Learn more about ACAPT's National Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Commission.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consortium’s purpose is to promote real change that supports increased accessibility and opportunities for everyone in Education and Profession of Physical Therapy. The DEI consortium will promote increased accessibility, inclusion, acceptance of differences, and opportunities for all stakeholders involved in PT education. This Consortium was approved for development in January 2019.

DEI holds elections in the spring-summer during the ACAPT election cycle. If you are a DEI member, you are registered to vote. If you have not yet joined DEI, please click the "Request to Join" box above. As with any organization, formation of a leadership team is representative of its members who vote.

DEI Consortium Profile Interest Form

FAQs about DEI Consortium

Current Leadership

SENOBIA D. CRAWFORD

Position: Chair
Credentials: PT, PhD
Hampton University

BERNADETTE WILLIAMS YORK

Position: Vice-Chair
Credentials: PT, DSc
University of Washington

Talina Corvus

Position: Secretary
Credentials: PT, DPT
Pacific University

LADARIUS WOODS

Position: Director-at-Large
Credentials: PT, DPT, PhD, CSCS
Alabama State University

CARLA HUGGINS

Position: Nominating Committee
Credentials: PT, DPT
Georgia State University

Anjanette Nunez

Position: Nominating Committee
Credentials: PT, DPT
Emory University

position descriptions.

Chair: The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Consortium and shall be an Exofficio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. S/he shall be the designated liaison to the ACAPT Board of Directors unless otherwise determined by the DEI Consortium Board of Directors; prepare and submit written reports of the activities of the DEI Consortium to ACAPT; prepare and submit an annual written report of the activities of the Consortium to its members. The Chairperson will assure currency of essential information on the ACAPT DEI Consortium Website.

Vice-Chair: The Vice Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson at the request of the Chairperson or in the absence or incapacitation of the Chairperson and oversee DEI ad hoc committees as a voting committee member. The Vice Chair shall serve as the Parliamentarian during the Annual and Special meetings. The Vice Chair shall represent the DEI Consortium related to any Program Planning responsibilities for ELC.

Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of all DEI Consortium and Board meetings; notify DEI Consortium members of the date, time, and place of DEI Consortium meetings; maintain the DEI Consortium’s archives and correspondence; and make DEI Consortium’s minutes and rules and regulations available to the membership and to ACAPT’s executive office.

Nominating Committee Member: The Nominating Committee shall consist of three (3) members elected by the membership for three (3) year terms, with one (1) member being elected each year. The senior member of the committee shall serve as Committee Chair for the last year of his/her term.

The nominating committee shall prepare a slate of one (1) or more names for each office to be filled. The slate (i.e. list of candidates) shall be published in the DEI Consortium newsletter and distributed to the membership at least 60 days prior to the election. The Nominating Chair will provide the slate, together with the information on each candidate, at least 30 days in advance of the election in the same fashion followed for the publication of the slate.

Director-At-Large (DAL): The Director at Large shall serve on the Board of Directors to provide for broad-based input into the decision-making process of the leadership team and assist with dissemination of information to the membership. They will serve as a regional liaison as assigned. They will perform such other duties as may be applicable to the office or as directed by the Board.

For questions, contact the Nominating Committee, Dawn Brown at dbrown36@niu.edu.