Equity, diversity, and inclusion Task Force

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) are fundamental to the Controlled Release Society and integral to excellence in scientific research and communication. In recognition of its diverse membership and in response to social injustices being witnessed around the world, CRS released a formal ED&I policy statement in 2020. Shortly thereafter, plans were made for the establishment of an ED&I Task Force to support the needs of our growing community. This initiative was kicked off with a Town Hall event where member feedback was used to craft a set of goals for the soon-to-be-formed ED&I Task Force. Volunteers with a broad array of professional and personal experiences and perspectives responded to the call to participate in this effort, and we have since divided into sub-committees to focus on the goals outlined in that first Town Hall meeting. This information was most recently presented publicly to the CRS community at our 2021 Town Hall meeting, the slides for which are available in the ED&I section of the CRS website.

Who are the EDI Task Force members?

Morgan (Fedorchak) DiLeo, Program Director

Award Subcommittee: Alessandra Rossi, Kevin McHugh, Mei-Li Laracuente and Marwa Sallam

Communications Subcommittee: Devika Manickam and Eliana Martins Lima

Education Subcommittee: Ruth Schmid, Crystal Shin, Manuel Sanchez-Felix and Julian Zhu

Best Practices, Policies and Procedures Subcommittee: Nam Phuong Nguyen, Tejal Desai, Best Practices and Clare Hoskins

Members: Thashree Marimuthu and Sarah Hedtrich                                                                                                                 

Some of the key accomplishments from our first year include establishment and awarding of the CRS Member of the Year Award, addition of ED&I resources to the CRS website and membership/meeting registration forms, and leadership education efforts. There is much more work to be done and we cannot do it without you, our community. As this professional society grows and thrives, CRS and the ED&I Task Force will continue to listen to its members and seek out opportunities to improve policies, practices, and communication in support of its core values and mission. 

If you have helpful insight to offer or you are interested in getting involved, please reach out using the ED&I contact information on the CRS website https://www.controlledreleasesociety.org/equity-diversity-inclusion