Affinity Group Program

Butler University faculty/staff affinity groups’ mission, in partnership with the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, is to cultivate a connection and sense of belonging for historically underrepresented faculty and staff members. Through this sense of belonging, affinity groups can help support and retain faculty and staff from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds and identities. Affinity groups will support the program’s mission by facilitating activities which enhance and convene the unique identity shared by its members for the benefit of their members and the broader campus community. Applications for new affinity groups are open at the beginning of the spring semester. A list of current affinity groups plus their contact information is listed below. General questions regarding the affinity group program can be sent to Danny Kibble.

Young Professionals Group
The Young Professionals Group provides a space for young professionals and early career professionals in higher education to share resources and connect across Butler University’s campus. The group’s goals are to provide networking opportunities for participants, promote the sharing of resources, and retain young talent at Butler. Join our “Young Professionals Affinity Group” Teams page to learn more and get involved! There is no age requirement for this group- all are welcome.
Contact: Katie Nelson

Juntos @ Butler
We are a social group made up of Latinx employees at Butler University whose main purpose is to get together on a quarterly basis, sometimes more, in order to promote and share our love for all things related to our cultures: food, art, music, movies, education, etc. We do this not only to retain our own cultures but to also support and encourage appreciation for the Latinx community in Indianapolis.
Contact: Alex Carter

Asian Pacific Islander Community (APIC)
The Asian Pacific Islander Community (APIC) is made up of diverse faculty and staff who have come together with shared values of respect, inclusion, collaboration, advocacy and education. We foster community and belonging among us and create opportunities for solidarity, networking, resource sharing and mentoring for our members. We aim to develop and promote educational tools and events that advance knowledge of the diverse lived experiences of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities within and beyond campus. Join us today by emailing one of us below!
Contact: fall 2023 is Su-Mei Ooi and spring of 2024 is Nandita Das

Jewish Culture
The Jewish Culture Affinity Group aims to foster dialogue and connections amongst faculty and staff interested in or curious about Jewish life at Butler. As we build this community, we hope to be able to offer educational outreach programs to raise understanding across campus.
Contact: Hilene Flanzbaum

Faculty Women of Color Collective
The faculty women of color collective offers mutual support and community for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Arab, Asian, Pacific Islander, and other women of color faculty.  Any faculty member who shares a commitment to solidarity, egalitarianism, and mutual accountability is welcome.
Contact: Robin Turner

Women in Leadership
It is estimated that over 58% of the workforce is female; however, only 35% of senior leadership positions are held by women. This gap indicates there is work to be done to ensure women are provided with equal opportunities to hold senior leadership positions. It’s also equally important to care for and develop women who are in leadership positions to ensure they thrive in leadership positions and to mentor/coach/develop other future women leaders. This group is open to any individual currently employed at Butler in a leadership position who is passionate about the leadership challenges, competencies, and approaches applicable to women seeking leadership positions and helping women in leadership positions thrive in their roles. We will discuss the unique challenges women face as leaders as well as explore the bumpy roads associated with being a leader in today’s environment.
Contact: Stephanie Hinshaw

Society of Visual Arts (SOVA)
We are a social group whose purpose is to enjoy our shared interest in the visual arts, and we aim to encourage faculty and staff to exchange ideas and build networks for the enrichment of the arts at Butler University. Society of Visual Arts (SOVA) welcomes faculty and staff to join the society to connect through visual arts.
Contact: Linda Willem 

LGBTQIA+ Community for Faculty and Staff at Butler
The purpose and goal of this group is to create a network of support and community for LGBTQIA+ individuals at Butler. We will coordinate social events that facilitate supportive relationships, which will make possible (in no particular order): mentorship, solidarity, showcasing member contributions to Butler and beyond, and the sharing of professional and pedagogical development opportunities.
Contact: Elise Edwards and Lavender McKittrick-Sweitzer

Decolonizing the Classroom
This group has two purposes: 1) to explore the body of scholarship around decolonizing the classroom & curriculum; and 2) to provide space to think about how that scholarship translates into classroom practices. The group will discuss readings, films or other scholarship on decolonizing higher education. It can also include members bringing moments, practices, assignments from the classroom to discuss and problem-solve together. We will discuss inviting external scholars to share with the larger university community.
Contact: Julie Searcy and Jeremy Townsley

Community-engaged Learning
The purpose of the group is to gather monthly to discuss how to best instill community engagement and social responsibility into the Butler students, support each other in our efforts concerning community engagement, and discuss new programming to encourage our peers to become involved in community engagement in their classes.
Contact: Mary Gospel 

Slow Productivity
The purpose of the group is to bring together Butler faculty and staff who wish to develop an approach to work that is sustainable, so that we can produce output that is of high quality but also of humane quantity. Our goals include providing members with resources, opening up discussions, and exchanging ideas for sustainable productive work.
Contact:  Andrew Stoehr