GRAD 210: Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Academic Leadership

We’re excited to welcome back GRAD 210: JEDI Academic Leadership in Winter 2027!

As we begin this new chapter, we’re reimagining the course with a renewed focus on leadership development and social impact in academic communities. 

Building on five years of learning and reflection, the redesigned GRAD 210 responds to the evolving needs of graduate students and postdocs as they navigate academic spaces and envision their roles as future leaders. The course will continue to center students’ and postdocs’ journeys as emerging academic leaders, exploring how leadership connects to their identities, communities, and broader social responsibilities.  

Through self-reflection, interdisciplinary dialogue, and collaborative learning, participants will critically engage with questions of power, institutional governance, and social responsibility, while exploring possibilities for meaningful change within and beyond academia.

Participants will put their learning into practice by designing a capstone project that addresses an issue or challenge they care about within their academic communities. With ongoing mentorship, they will have opportunities to implement and evaluate their projects throughout the spring and summer, turning ideas into transformational action.

GRAD 210 will be offered in a hybrid format, combining flexible learning with opportunities for engaging dialogue, collaboration, and community building.

D’Anne Duncan, PhD
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences

► Watch students from the 2021 and 2022 cohorts present their projects at our inaugural GRAD 210 Symposium held on September 14, 2022!

Instructor:
D’Anne Duncan, PhD
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Course Coordinator:
Shinyi Hsieh, PhD
Student Program and Assessment Specialist

Dates: January 7–March 11, 2027 

Time: Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. PT 

Location: Hybrid format, with in-person sessions at the Mission Bay campus. 

*Location details will be confirmed and shared with enrolled students based on the final number of participants, where they are located, and any access needs that can help support their participation.

Course Credits: 4

See below for course description, curriculum, enrollment process, and other details (Winter 2027):

Course Description

On students’ and postdocs' journeys toward leadership roles in research, teaching, administration, or industry, understanding the value and implications of centering justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) is key. In this unique 10-week service-learning course, students and postdocs will develop in-depth knowledge of JEDI principles, build leadership skills, and gain experience designing and implementing a JEDI project.

In the first seven weeks, students and postdocs will be exposed to terminology, history, and theories from the JEDI and leadership fields, and engage in self-reflection and critical discussion. In the final three weeks, students and postdocs will apply these principles and gain knowledge and skills in program planning and evaluation as they develop and present their project proposals. Students and postdocs will continue to receive mentorship as they implement and evaluate their projects over the course of the spring and summer.

Funding

Interested UCSF PhD students and postdocs are invited to apply to join the course. Students and postdocs selected for the course will receive a $1,000 stipend and up to $500 to cover project expenses. Students and postdocs should expect to dedicate approximately five hours per week to the course during the winter quarter. Projects will be implemented during the spring and summer.

Eligibility

• Basic Science PhD students must have advanced to candidacy
• Social and Population Science PhD students must have advanced to candidacy and defended their dissertation proposal
• Postdoctoral scholars

Enrollment Process

Online intent to enrollment to be completed by the student or postdoc (Includes an essay question)

Essay response is limited to 3,000 characters maximum, including spaces.

UCSF does not use race, gender, sex, or other protected categories or proxies for protected categories in the enrollment.

Submit Intent to Enroll 

Timeline

Intent to enroll will close at 11:59 p.m. PST on December 4. Please send questions regarding the course or the enrollment process to Dr. Shinyi Hsieh at [email protected]