ºÚÁÏÉçÇø

Working in close collaboration with faculty, staff, and ºÚÁÏÉçÇø partners, the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence (OTIE) provides opportunities for the Miami community to continue our learning and engage in meaningful programming. Heritage Month programming supports Miami’s inclusive excellence approach.

OTIE organizes programming, collaborates, coordinates, and supports events across campuses through a coordinated calendar for each month; promotion of events; and, when available, limited funding support for proposed events with appeal across campuses.

MU Libraries is partnering with OTIE to feature online resources, including films, books and articles, and class offerings, during each Heritage Month. We invite you to explore these and other educational resources and links on each webpage. 

To learn more about this quarter’s heritage months please visit our Heritage Month webpage:

• September: Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month
• October: LGBTQIA+ History Month; Disability Identity and Culture Month

 For upcoming events, visit our . 

Heritage and History Month Events Submissions

Now accepting submissions for Heritage and History Month events and programming for Spring semester.  considering priority deadlines for each proposed history and heritage month celebrations.

President: April Robles, Director of Operations and Communications

The mission of the is to bring together Asian and Asian American faculty and staff, and serve as a supportive community for Asian and Asian American employees and ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs. The Asian/Asian American Faculty Staff Association is currently building traction with the community and is seeking to provide opportunities for individuals to connect in a more casual atmosphere and then use that leverage to continue the growth and momentum of the group. If you are looking to make an impact and be a leader, this is the group for faculty and staff to join! If it is a personal passion and something they want to do to become more connected to the campus community, you are encouraged to reach out to April Robles to connect.

President: José Amador, Associate Professor, Global and Intercultural Studies (Latin American, Latino/a, and Caribbean Studies)

The primary goal of the  primary is to support and raise awareness about the Latinx faculty and staff. They aim to build networks between departments and units, faculty and ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, and Miami university and the community at large. The group also strives to raise the visibility of the Latin American Studies Program and the nearby Latinx community. Additionally, to keep everyone informed about everything Latinx-related, which is done through a weekly “bulletin” with news and events. This organization has been formed by employees of ºÚÁÏÉçÇø (Hamilton, Middletown, and Oxford campuses) to foster Latinx, Latin American and Caribbean, and Ibero, Luso-American representation, improve work conditions, and enrich the social and cultural environment for all Miami faculty, staff, and ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs. Individuals interested in connecting can reach out to José Amador.

President: Angela Coffey Brown, Administrative Assistant, Enrollment Management and Student Success

The Classified Personnel Advisory Committee is established for the purpose of advising the President, Vice Presidents, and Human Resources on matters of interest and concern to classified staff members in the context of the whole university community. The group accomplishes this by bringing issues/concerns/proposals to administration for input and/or action, serving (individual members) on university committees, and providing feedback/input on matters brought to the committee for review. Additionally, the Classified Personnel Advisory Committee is established to provide an institutional venue or forum in which matters of interest or concern to classified staff members can be discussed, considered, and/or moved forward through appropriate channels. Anyone interested in connecting with or joining the committee can contact Angela Coffey Brown or reach out to the CPAC email.

CPAC is currently accepting applications for new members. Submit your application today!

The goal of the Disabled Faculty and Staff Association is to bring employees with disabilities together to build community and support each other. This is a newly formed affinity group and the group is currently seeking individuals to run for leadership roles.

President: Ebru Dirsel-Duffield, Associate Teaching Professor, American Culture and English Program

The goal of the  at Miami is to support and connect international faculty and staff while helping each other thrive in their specific roles on campus. This is accomplished through connecting with colleagues from diverse cultural, ethnic, racial, linguistic, and educational backgrounds, and broadening perspectives, welcoming diversity, and experiencing inclusion at Miami. The group also seeks to listen, understand, and identify the needs of international faculty/staff, address the concerns and needs of the university, provide relevant resources as needed, and help international faculty/staff. The main goal of the group is to support one another in professional development at the university.  

Interested individuals can reach out to IFSAM’s president Ebru Dirsel-Duffield.

President: Emily Cluen, Access Coordinator, Miller Center for Student Disability Services

The goal of the is to create space for the LGBTQIA+ community on campus and advocate for Queer and Trans individuals needs. The group is currently working on establishing and maintaining a larger group to allow for more capacity moving forward. For more details or to join our listserv, email QTFSA@MiamiOH.edu. The group is looking to host more events moving forward to connect with more folks on campus and provide more networking opportunities. Interested individuals can email the group’s email address to connect.

Interim President: Sarah Persinger, Associate Director FBS Technology Operations & Support

The Unclassified Personnel Advisory Committee was created in 1983 to advise the University Administration (specifically the president and vice presidents) on matters of interest and concern to unclassified personnel. Committee members are selected to reflect a balance of gender, race/ethnicity, campus, division, level in the organization, responsibilities, years of university service, and any other characteristics that help to achieve a balance of knowledge, experience, viewpoints, interests and talents. The group’s most recent endeavor was focusing on wellness and bringing back access and funding to wellness areas on campus. Individuals interested in joining are encouraged to attend the monthly virtual meetings, which take place on the second Tuesday of each month. Interested individuals can also connect with  for more information.

Reimagining the Academy Conference

ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, Kent State University, and Bowling Green State University have joined forces for the collaborative conference - Reimagining the Academy. This year’s theme Coalition-Building in a Divided World builds on the success of the 2023 Reimagining the Academy Conference, which took place at Kent State University. Previously, each university held an annual conference on topics related to inclusive excellence. This alliance brings together the communities and expertise of the three universities, and is open to ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, faculty, and staff across Ohio and beyond. The conference will take place on Friday, September 20th and Saturday September 21st at ºÚÁÏÉçÇø.

Focusing on the theme of coalition-building, the 2024 conference will explore how individuals can come together across disciplinary and professional borders as well as across positionalities and institutions to build on our strengths, discuss and develop spaces and strategies of resistance and support, and to learn from one another. The theme of coalition-building is offered as a form of radical hope and as a pathway to a more just world in our increasingly divided world. 

Conference Co-Chair Dr. Hiram Ramirez, Assistant Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Strategic Initiatives for the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence at ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, shared that the “goal of the conference is to bring together faculty, staff, ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, and community members across the state to come together to discuss how we can collectively work towards advancing inclusive excellence in our respective institutions. As a community, ºÚÁÏÉçÇø values inclusive excellence and is committed to ensuring everyone feels welcome. We strive to better understand each other and our various lived experiences, so that we can celebrate our diverse perspectives and learn from each other. The conference embodies our institution's commitment to inclusive excellence and at working together to effect positive change in our community.”

Ana Brown, Conference Co-Chair and Deputy Chief Inclusion Officer for Bowling Green State University (BGSU), expressed her excitement for the themes and goals of this year’s conference, noting “This year’s theme of coalition-building aligns well with BGSU’s strategic mission of creating public good, and it is reflected in the work that has been done, from the collective decision-making process to the collaborative outreach. The partner universities laid a strong framework at Kent State that has been built upon at Miami, and that will continue at BGSU next year when we host. Our institutions have had continued conversations about how to improve with each passing year and how the benefits extend not only to RTA but to each individual institution as well. And that’s really the benefit of good coalition: using the strengths of each of the partners to amplify the overall outcome, the proverbial “whole being more than the sum of its parts’.”

This year’s conference has over 50 sessions covering topics ranging from wellness and community care to coalition-building and research. This includes both in-person and online experiences to provide accessible learning opportunities for all conference attendees. Dr. Ramirez shared that the conference has a strong emphasis on wellness this year and he is excited for the impact this will have on attendees. “I am excited about the intentional and thoughtful commitment to wellness this year. As many folks can attest to, coalition-building is not easy or done in a short timeframe. It is intentional, thoughtful, and extensive work that can be very taxing,” Ramirez said. “Therefore, the conference’s focus on wellness as part of coalition-building helps to honor the need for us to pause at times and think of our own wellbeing, since we manytimes center others in our work. I hope that this commitment to wellness during the conference, reminds participants how they could intentionally build these practices into their daily work.”

The 2024 Reimagining the Academy Conference will also feature two plenary speaker sessions exploring different themes around wellness and collective care. Conference Co-Chair Morgan Woodin, Coordinator of Operations and Special Projects for the Division of People, Culture and Belonging for Kent State University, expressed his excitement for the plenary sessions and the impact they will have on conference attendees. “I am glad that both plenary sessions have such a prominent focus on self-care and healing. Often when we see the theme of coalition-building, there is still so much focus on what we can do and what actions need to be taken to continue to move forward. I think having these dedicated discussions about healing and self-care is a great opportunity for our attendees, especially our BIPOC attendees, to say here is what we can do to take care of ourselves and our communities, which is a timeless lesson and incredibly applicable right now,” Woodin stated. Both plenary sessions of the conference will occur during the lunch hour and will provide space for a wellness break after the session is completed. Wellness sessions will include therapy dogs from the ºÚÁÏÉçÇø Student Counseling Service, along with opportunities to utilize wellness tools and resources.

Conference Co-Chair Tekeia N.K. Howard, Director of Programming for the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence at ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, hopes that conference attendees are able to fully engage and learn positive lessons from the conference program and themes. Howard stated, “I hope that attendees will leave with a sense of hope and the skills needed to realize a future where they can actively see themselves contributing to their communities and environments, whether that is in their personal or professional lives. I hope they are able to create positive change in their communities as a result of their engagement with the conference sessions and speakers.”

Interested attendees are invited to register for the conference by Friday, September 6th. Registration is free to faculty, staff, ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, alums, and community members. To learn more about ways to engage with this year’s conference and to sign-up for future events and updates, please visit the 2024 Reimagining the Academy website.

Krista McDonald, Library Director, Hamilton Campus

ºÚÁÏÉçÇø Libraries’ staff are known for their dedication to creating a welcoming environment where ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs can access knowledge and resources. Whether it is hosting programming, aiding patrons with their research projects, or creating resources, ºÚÁÏÉçÇø’s Library (MUL) staff work hard to create an inclusive environment for all library patrons. One of these dedicated staff members is Krista McDonald, Library Director for the Hamilton Campus.

Krista McDonald has been with ºÚÁÏÉçÇø Libraries for 18 years. McDonald has been a member of the University Libraries Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee since 2020, and has been co-chairing the committee since November of 2022. She also has been active with the Safe Zone Training as a co-facilitator and has served on the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence’s LGBTQ+ Task Force. As Library Director for the Hamilton Campus, McDonald runs all operations of the Hamilton campus library, including supervising staff, managing their budget, and other leadership responsibilities. In addition to these duties, McDonald also works to support inclusive excellence in the libraries through programming and strategic initiatives.

Each year, the University Libraries system crafts a which outlines the mission, goals, and values of the library system for the year and informs the initiatives and programs that are conducted. The most recent iteration of strategic planning included several goals specifically related to DEI. While the regional campus libraries report to the Vice President & Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science and as such are not included in the University Libraries’ strategic planning process, the Hamilton campus library has also had goals related to DEI. One example of the implementation of these goals at the Hamilton campus library is through the various trainings and professional development programs available for staff members. McDonald explained that, “these trainings are not required, but are offered as a means to expand the team’s perspectives and equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to best serve their patrons, regardless of their identity or background. Our team members have completed Green Zone and Safe Zone trainings in addition to Mental Health First Aid training, and we are always exploring new opportunities as a collective to identify areas of needed support in our community to inform our next training opportunity. Our staff all have a strong desire to do the best they can to create a welcoming environment in our library, and these trainings are one opportunity available to them as a means to accomplish that goal.”

Another example of the implementation of the library’s strategic plan and their efforts to further inclusive excellence are the programmatic and resource offerings available on each campus. According to McDonald, these programs include but are not limited to recognizing and celebrating the various cultural heritage and history months on campus. McDonald shared, “these programs have included celebrations for Coming Out Day, a lecture on Frida Kahlo’s art in collaboration with the Association of Latino and American Students (ALAS) in recognition of Day of the Dead, and many others. Beyond our heritage month programming and displays, we work to provide a wide range of resources to support the needs of our ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs.” It was for this purpose that McDonald with the MUL DEI Committee worked to create and maintain the .

McDonald shared that, “the were created to have a place for members of the Miami community to get additional information about the different cultures and identities celebrated on campus through History and Heritage Month programming. There are currently approximately 10 different guides that consist of not only academic resources, but also more non-academic resources designed to allow users to connect with others and build community. The LibGuides provide social and statistical information, along with podcasts, movies, videos, and other resources to help individuals learn more about different cultures, identities, and topics within those groups.” McDonald noted that each guide provides a range of reading and learning levels to allow for the resources to be utilized by a wide range of audience members, whether it is for personal edification or to be used as a resource for classrooms or community members. The guides are updated yearly with members of the DEI Committee to ensure they remain current, relevant, and have working resources. McDonald expressed that the DEI Committee is always looking for new resources to add to the guides so that they remain a robust resource.

Beyond the History and heritage Month programming and resources, McDonald and her team work to identify and address resource gaps for ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs. She and her team work to accomplish this through measures such as software, equipment, and other library resources that can serve to reduce costs and increase access for ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, supporting their long-term success and feelings of belonging on campus. As McDonald and the University Libraries team continue to work to increase accessibility and belonging on campus, they invite ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, faculty and staff to and .

Constructive Dialogue Program

In the spring of 2024, the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence (OTIE) in partnership with ASPIRE, the Honors College, and the Menard Family Center for Democracy, launched the pilot of the Constructive Dialogue Program. More than 100 ºÚÁÏÉçÇø leaders at ºÚÁÏÉçÇø spent three weeks participating in a pilot program to learn how to engage in productive discussions with people from different backgrounds. This fall, the program is being expanded to include offerings for ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, faculty, and staff.

The is a “form of conversation in which people who have different values, beliefs, and perspectives seek to build new ways to understand and interact with each other, even as they sustain commitments to their own principles and perspectives. The format is ideal for discussing important, complicated issues that can divide people.” Rather than focusing on winning or persuading others, constructive dialogue aims to build bridges across differences and build meaningful community partnerships. Dr. Cristina Alcalde, Vice President for Transformational and Inclusive Excellence explains that the program was launched, “to provide Miami ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs with concrete tools to engage in respectful and constructive dialogue across differences, including political, religious, racial, cultural, or other forms of difference.” 

“We know that communicating across differences is an important life skill to be successful in personal and professional spaces, and that it can help reduce polarization and increase a sense of belonging,” Alcalde said. “These would be important goals any year, but as our society becomes increasingly polarized and in the context of an election year, we thought it would be especially useful to launch this year.” Through its partnership with the , Miami is able to provide the Miami community with access to tools that facilitate dialogue between individuals and groups with different perspectives, values, and beliefs.

For 2024-2025, OTIE also is partnering with the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) to launch the Faculty Learning Community “Teaching and Learning Across Differences” to support Miami faculty in incorporating Constructive Dialogue skills in the classroom. Participants of the learning community will have regular meetings and discussions to develop toolkits for how to constructively approach different perspectives, and teach across differences, in Miami courses. Toolkits developed by participants will provide faculty in the social sciences, natural sciences, and arts and humanities with actionable strategies for incorporating and facilitating constructive dialogue in the classroom across differences in backgrounds, viewpoints, and values. OTIE is also launching a Staff Leadership Cohort, with representatives from across the university to consider ways of embedding constructive dialogue in out-of-classroom experiences. They will also meet regularly like the Faculty Learning Community to incorporate constructive dialogue into leadership trains, dialogue-based events, and much more. 

As the program expands, OTIE is excited to bring faculty and staff cohorts together to expand the impact of the program and continue their work engaging ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs in these dialogues. Interested participants are invited to visit the OTIE website to sign up for the next available session.

Amanda Alexander, Professor and Chair for the Department of Art. College of Arts and Science

Sharma, Manisha, and Amanda Alexander. . Routledge, 2023. 

Jennifer Blue, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Dean, Department of Physics

Barthelemy, R. S., Traxler, A. L., Blue, J., and Swirtz, M., “” in The International Handbook of Physics Education Research: Special ºÚÁÏÉçÇøics, edited by M. F. Taşar and P. R. L. Heron (AIP Publishing, Melville, New York, 2023), pp. 3-1–3-16.

Runcie C. W. Chidebe, Graduate Assistant, Department of Sociology and Gerontology

Ashad-Bishop, K.C., Balogun, O.D., Chidebe, R.C.W. et al. Black voices in cancer research and oncology. Nat Rev Cancer (2024).

Jennifer Cohen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Global and Intercultural Studies

Cohen, J., van der Meulen Rodgers, Y. An intersectional analysis of long COVID prevalence. Int J Equity Health 22, 261 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-02072-5

Bruce Drushel, Ph.D., Professor and Department Chair, Department of Media, Journalism, and Film

Bruce E. Drushel. (2023). Where Radio Dare Not Tread: Podcasts as Queer Audio Media. Radio Journal 21(1), pp. 67-81.

Bruce Drushel, Ph.D., Professor and Department Chair, Department of Media, Journalism, and Film

Niu, L., Zhang, D., Shi, L., Han, X., Chen, Z., Chen, L., Wen, M., Li, H., Chen, B., Li, J., Su, D., & Li, Y. (2023). Racial discrimination and sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the health, ethnicity, and pandemic (HEAP) study. The Journal of Urban Health, 100, 431–435. [Impact factor 5.801]

Katie Johnson, Ph.D., Professor, English Department Affiliate, Department of Global and Intercultural Studies

Racing the Great White Way: Black Performance, Eugene O’Neill and the Transformation of Broadway. University of Michigan Press, July 2023.

Anna Kłosowska, Ph.D., Professor; Department of French, Italian and Classical Studies

“Western(ish): Periods and Maps.” H-France vol 15 (2023) issue 10 #8, Open Access, salon on periodization edited by Christine Adams and Charles-Louis Morand-Métivier.  

Anna Kłosowska, Ph.D., Professor; Department of French, Italian and Classical Studies

2023: SIT Amsterdam: International Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality

Denise McCoskey, Ph.D., Professor; Department of French, Italian and Classical Studies

Denise Eileen McCoskey, "Race, Roman Law Courts, and the Colonized

Subject: Teaching Cicero's Pro Fonteio," in

: Perspectives from North America and

Europe, edd. Daniel Libatique and Fiona McHardy (New York and London:

Routledge), pp. 47-60.

Racheal Rothrock, Ph.D., Assistant Professor; Literacy & Language Master's Program Coordinator, Department of Teaching, Curriculum, amd Educational Inquiry

Banda, R., Fernández, É., Aronson, B., & Reyes, G. (2023).

. Thresholds in Education, 46(1).

We welcome your submissions and invite individuals to share publications from the past year to be highlighted in this section. To submit a recent publication, .

Reimagining the Academy: Coalition-Building in a Divided World Conference

ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, Kent State University, and Bowling Green State University have joined forces for the collaborative conference - Reimagining the Academy. This year’s theme Coalition-Building in a Divided World builds on the success of the 2023 Reimagining the Academy Conference, which took place at Kent State University. Previously, each university held an annual conference on topics related to inclusive excellence. This alliance brings together the communities and expertise of the three universities, and is open to ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, faculty, and staff across Ohio and beyond.

Focusing on the theme of coalition-building, the 2024 conference will explore how individuals can come together across disciplinary and professional borders as well as across positionalities and institutions to build on our strengths, discuss and develop spaces and strategies of resistance and support, and to learn from one another. We offer the theme of coalition-building as a form of radical hope and as a pathway to a more just world in our increasingly divided world.

Reimagining the Academy will take place Friday, Sept. 20th through Saturday, Sept. 21st at ºÚÁÏÉçÇø in Oxford, Ohio. Virtual engagement opportunities will also be available.

is free to faculty, staff, ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, and alums, and community members. We also invite community members to , if they are interested and able to do so. 

For any additional questions, please reach out to atrconference@miamioh.edu. To receive up-to-date information regarding announcements, registration, and other important dates, please join the , and visit . 

Student Climate Interviews

You are invited to participate in a research project being conducted by the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence (OTIE). The purpose of this research is to understand the experiences of ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs as it relates to the campus climate both inside and outside of the classroom. We also want to identify additional programs, initiatives, and resources to support Miami ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs.

If you have any questions about the survey, please feel free to reach out to Cristina Alcalde (she, her, hers), Vice President, Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence at vpDiversity@MiamiOH.edu who is the Principal Investigator for the study. 

Employee Stay Interviews

You are invited to participate in a research project being conducted by the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence (OTIE). The purpose of this research is to learn specific actions ºÚÁÏÉçÇø can take to strengthen the retention and overall climate for employees. We also want to identify strategies and resources needed to support Miami employees’ professional goals.

If you have any questions about the survey, please feel free to reach out to Cristina Alcalde (she, her, hers), Vice President, Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion vpDiversity@MiamiOH.edu who is the Principal Investigator for the study. 

Celebrating Culture Through Music and Dance

Friday, September 13, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Shriver Center, Heritage Room

In honor of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, we invite you to immerse yourself in the rhythmic beats and movements of Latinx dance traditions. This event promises an evening of cultural exploration and energy. Participate in interactive dance sessions where you can learn steps and techniques from The Salsa Center.

Learn Salsa, Bachata, and Samba. You will also experience dance performances from The Salsa Center.

No experience is necessary—just bring your enthusiasm!

Constructive Dialogue Initiative: Student Opportunities

Track 1

Description: A 30 minute Open Session for learners who have completed Track 1 (module 1 and module 2) in the Perspectives Program. Attend this highly engaged session to practice skills learned and to earn your badge for completing Track 1 in the Perspectives Program.  Please complete both module 1 and 2 prior to attending this session. To sign up to any of the following sessions, use this . 

Redhawks Equity Leadership Series (RELS)

Be empowered! Be inspired to make transformative change. Complete a Redhawk Equity Leadership Series Certificate through our online sessions:

• A Road to Active Allyship
• Inclusive Marketing
• Introduction to Microaggressions
• Leading with Racial Equity
• Pronouns 101

Redhawk Equity Leadership Series (RELS), is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a FREE cultural competency certificate for ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs which is completely online and asynchronous. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Certificate

Join our online Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion course and learn how to be an active ally, inclusive leader, and effective mediator. Extend your individual experiences and knowledge with research-based tools and strategies to thrive as an advocate for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world. 

The DEI Leadership Certificate utilizes five foundational modules: (1) Bias, Stereotypes, and Microaggressions, (2) Race and Anti-Racism, (3) LGBTQ+ Identities, (4) Ableism and Inclusion, 5) Allyship and Advocacy. 

Current registrants have until June 30th to complete their certificate modules. For more information, please visit DEI in Leadership Certificate.

As we continue the spring semester, the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence (OTIE)  encourages all Miami community members to consult the full list of dates on our website. To assist with planning, below we highlight a few key religious holidays and observances for the upcoming spring season, including a description of the holiday, best practices, and customary greetings. Please note that these are not all of the holidays that are taking place, nor is this a fully inclusive list. 

October 3*-4 - Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) 

• Description: Rosh Hashanah begins the Jewish New Year.  Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah's rabbinical customs include attending synagogue services and reciting special liturgy about teshuva, as well as enjoying festive meals. Eating symbolic foods is now a tradition, such as apples dipped in honey, hoping to evoke a sweet new year.
• Best Practices:  Employees who observe Rosh Hashanah are not permitted to work on that day. Rosh Hashanah is a holiday during which work, electronics, and other restrictions are in place for observers. Please be mindful of scheduling around Rosh Hashanah, as this is an important date for the Jewish community.  
• Customary Greetings: The common way to wish someone well during Rosh Hashanah is to say "Shana Tovah" (ShaNAH ToVAH), meaning "Good Year."

October 12* - Yom Kippur (Jewish)

• Description: Yom Kippur is the most solemn religious fast of the Jewish year, the last of the ten days of penitence that begin with Rosh Hashanah. Primarily centered on atonement and repentance, Jewish tradition believes that on this day God places a seal upon the Divine decrees affecting each person for the coming year. Jewish congregations spend the eve of Yom Kippur and the entire day in prayer and meditation.
• Best Practices:  Observers of Yom Kippur will abstain from work, food and drink. Yom Kippur is a holiday during which fasting takes place and work, electronics, and other restrictions are in place for observers. Please be mindful of scheduling around Yom Kippur, as this is an important date for the Jewish community.
• Customary Greetings: The best greeting to give to someone observing Yom Kippur in English is “have an easy fast.” For those who are not fasting, but are observing the Yom Kippur, you can wish them a “Good Yuntif,” or “Yom Tov,” which are Yiddish and Hebrew, respectively, for “Have a good holy day.”

October 16*-23 - Sukkot (Jewish)

• Description: Sukkot is the Jewish holiday celebrating the Feast of the Tabernacles and Harvest festival .In addition to its harvest roots, the holiday also holds spiritual importance with regard to its abandonment of materialism to focus on nationhood, spirituality, and hospitality, this principle underlying the construction of a temporary, almost nomadic, structure of a sukkah. Sukkot is celebrated by, first of all, building a sukkah. Sukkot is a holiday that speaks of the importance of compassion, spirituality, nationhood, and hospitality. During Sukkot, observers are called to build a sukkah to honor and commemorate the harvest season, along with the history of the pilgrimage holiday during with the Israelites would travel to the Temple and dwell in temporary homes. The sukkah structure is a call back to this history and a reminder of the significance of compassion for others and the importance of removing oneself from materialistic things to refocus priorities upon spirituality and community.
• Best Practices:  Sukkot is a holiday during which work, electronics, and other restrictions are in place for observers during the first two and last two days, as these are holy days. Please be mindful of scheduling around Sukkot, as this is an important date for the Jewish community. 
• Customary Greetings: The common way to wish someone well during Sukkot is to say "Chag Sameach" (khahg sah-MAy-akh)), meaning "Happy Holiday."

October 31*- November 1 - Samhain (Pagan/Wiccan/Druid)

• Description: Samhain is a Pagan/Wiccan festival honoring endings, beginnings, and the dead. Samhain marked the Celtic New Year, the end of summer, and the end of the harvest season. It also signaled the beginning of winter, which they associated with death. On this day, the Celts believed the veil between the living and the dead was especially thin. This allowed spirits of the dead to visit the living. There are many rituals associated with Samhain today. These include dancing, feasting, taking nature walks, and building altars to honor their ancestors. There are many parts to the altars Wiccans build. To symbolize the end of the harvest, they include apples, pumpkins, or other fall crops.
• Best Practices:  There are no employee restrictions during this time, though a devout observer of this holiday may request time off to celebrate.
• Customary Greetings: The common way to wish someone well during Sukkot is to say "Samhain Blessings."

November 1 - Diwali/Deepavali (Hindu, Jain)

• Description: Bandhi Chhor Divas (Sikh), Buddhist) - Known as the "Festival of Lights;" ("Day of Liberation") is a Sikh celebration that commemorates the day the sixth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Hargobind was released from Gwalior Fort and was able to secure the release of 52 kings. is one of the most important festivals in Indian religions. It symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance." It's a five-day celebration that includes good food, fireworks, colored sand, and special candles and lamps. Hindus interpret the Diwali story based upon where they live. But there's one common theme no matter where people celebrate: the victory of good over evil.  
• Best Practices:  Some practitioners may take time off to celebrate.
• Customary Greetings: “Shubh Deepavali” (pronounced “shope duh-VAH-lee”) is a customary greeting associated with Diwali. It means, “Have an auspicious Diwali.” 

Note: ​​“*” denotes holidays that start sundown the day before. Please note that individual practices may vary. 

We also encourage the use of our calendar to provide guidance and help avoid scheduling important events, activities, and deadlines on holidays observed by members of the Miami community.  Should you or a member of your team have any questions or concerns on how to best utilize this information or on appropriate accommodations, please contact the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence or the Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity.

Summer Observance Posters