Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Pardee RAND Graduate School
At Pardee RAND, we believe that better public policy reflects the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we are dedicated to promoting those values throughout the educational and professional environment at Pardee RAND and the broader RAND community.
We cultivate an environment in which the different experiences, identities, and worldviews of our student body are valued. These include—but are not limited to—race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, religion, place of origin, immigration status, ability status, and social or political beliefs.
Pardee RAND students, faculty, and staff create a welcoming environment and encourage each other to think critically about assumptions we make when defining problems, exploring solutions, and engaging with outside institutions and communities.
We are committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community that brings fresh ideas, new approaches, and serious perspectives to the pursuit of solutions to intractable and emerging public policy challenges, such as racial equity and homelessness.
Our students hail from 23 countries, speak 29 different languages, and represent a wide swath of research disciplines and experience.
Leadership
As director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Pardee RAND Graduate School, Malcolm V. Williams oversees efforts to ensure that DEI values are reflected in every aspect of the school—from research, teaching, and advising to curriculum, admissions, partnerships, and the dissertation experience.
Marylou Gilbert partners with Malcolm on DEI efforts, serving as the school's DEI projects manager. She is also program manager of the Pardee RAND Graduate School's Community-Partnered Policy and Action stream, coordinator of the RAND Center on Housing and Homelessness in Los Angeles, and a senior policy analyst at the RAND Corporation.
Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Scholarships
The Edward and Estela O'Brien Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Award offers qualified Ph.D. students the opportunity to acquire and develop advanced research skills through faculty mentoring relationships, professional development, and a two-year full-tuition scholarship.
The scholarship is intended for students who are underrepresented in the student body population, have overcome obstacles such as socioeconomic or educational disadvantage, or are the first generation in their family to attend college and/or pursue an advanced degree.
Equity in Policy Analysis Training
Pardee RAND offers workshops and seminars on diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the school year. Students, faculty, and staff may participate in workshops on such topics as implicit bias, inclusive workplaces, and broadening perspectives.
Additionally, RAND-sponsored employee resource groups offer support, camaraderie, and outreach opportunities for a wide range of groups, including Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and those with disabilities.
Research Opportunities
Through RAND's Center to Advance Racial Equity Policy, a broad slate of projects is underway aimed at centering racial and ethnic equity in policies and systems. These RAND-initiated projects cross disciplines and research areas, from social and economic policy to national security. Pardee students are supporting and even leading some of these efforts.
Students also research topics including improving workforce diversity in the military and promoting community health and environmental policy, and participate in immersive activities focused on Community-Partnered Policy and Action.
Partnerships
Pardee RAND’s Faculty Leaders Program is an annual, week-long program that engages faculty from throughout the United States from colleges and universities serving students underrepresented in public policy. The intent is for faculty to return to their institutions with new tools to effect change in their classrooms and their communities and to inspire their students to consider careers and advanced study in public policy.
Pardee RAND partners with professional and academic organizations on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, including the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Program and the Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM).
Student and Faculty Diversity Data
Pardee RAND views transparency as an important step toward having a diverse, equitable, and inclusive student body. We review this data internally as part of our administrative processes and are pleased to share them.
Student Body Profile for
First-Generation
Birth Year
U.S. Student Race/Ethnicity
Gender
Geographic Representation
International Student Citizenship by Region
The Pardee RAND Graduate School is required to report key demographic information to the U.S. Department of Education through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). The school posts success measures, disaggregated by race/ethnicity, using IPEDS categories (PDF) for student race and ethnicity and geographic representation reporting. These categories are formulated by the U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics (see our Student Success and Achievement Data page to view graduation and time-to-completion rates).
One required piece of demographic data is student gender. Pardee RAND allows students to describe their gender identity as they see fit but, to protect the privacy of the small number of students who do not identify as male or female, Pardee RAND follows U.S. Department of Education reporting conventions for any student who identifies as neither male nor female; namely, we randomly assign them a gender based upon the gender ratio of their Pardee RAND cohort.