UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - Penn State recently launched University-wide Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are voluntary, employee-led groups open to all staff and faculty. The groups are created by employees around common identities, backgrounds or interests, and help to promote community and belonging while also supporting employee personal growth and career development.
Rainbow Roar, Penn State's first University-wide LGBTQ+ ERG, was unveiled on Oct. 25 during LGBT History Month within the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (CSGD) at a breakfast celebration sponsored by Penn State Human Resources. Rainbow Roar’s mission is to foster an inclusive and supportive workplace environment for LGBTQ+ employees and allies and to drive positive change and equity within Penn State.
Sonya Wilmoth, director of the CSGD and co-lead of Rainbow Roar, said the existence of a LGBTQ+ ERG would have been very helpful to her as a new Penn State employee in 2014.
“I had so many questions about raising a family here as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. The commitment to employees that the University, and specifically Penn State Human Resources, is making through the Rainbow Roar ERG will provide better support and advocacy for this community resulting in an increased sense of belonging,” Wilmoth said.
Rainbow Roar aims to create a workplace where all LGBTQ+ employees feel valued, respected and empowered, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Those interested in joining or learning how they can be part of developing and shaping this new organization should email rainbow-roar-erg@psu.edu.
Cecily Zhu, sustainable transportation program manager and organizer of the monthly Women and Queer Night event at the Bike Den, is also a co-lead of Rainbow Roar. Zhu, who was previously a member of a unit-level ERG in Finance and Business, emphasized the importance of creating community at all Penn State campuses.
“I’m so happy to see the support and interest for this University-wide resource, not just across departments but across the entire commonwealth,” Zhu said.
Penn State Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Michael Wade Smith, who attended the event, spoke about the special role that ERGs play, given how central work is to all employees.
“Throughout our lives we spend roughly a third of our time at work, a third of our time on family and personal pursuits, and a third of our time asleep," Smith said. "Given its major presence in our lives, our work should be a place where we can be our full, authentic selves, find community and feel a deep sense of belonging as part of the Penn State family."
Based on his past experience in creating ERGs, Smith also emphasized the role of ERGs in shaping workplace culture.
“Employee Resource Groups are an integral part of community building, creating connections across the workplace, and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging for all employees. I am thrilled to see these initial ERGs launch, which will help lay a foundation for a more cohesive, connected, and compassionate community across our University,” Smith said.
Brian Patchcoski, assistant vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion in Student Affairs, serves as the executive sponsor of Rainbow Roar. He believes that this ERG, which is a new chapter in Penn State’s long LGBTQ+ advocacy and changemaking history, is an important way for the University to give back to the staff and faculty who have done so much to support others.
Additionally, a second inaugural University-wide ERG, Vet-aLIONce, for servicemembers, veterans, families and their allies, will be unveiled at the annual Penn State Employee and Student Military Service Recognition Breakfast on Nov. 10. Penn State employees and students with military service backgrounds who wish to attend can register via this online form.
Nalini Krishnankutty, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging program manager for Penn State Human Resources, is helping to launch and manage the University-wide ERGs. She said employees in units and campuses with smaller numbers of individuals from marginalized communities were particularly interested in the ability of ERGs to sustainably create meaningful connections and programs that support intersectional identities.
“These ERGs can help with employee recruitment, onboarding, engagement and retention, and also contribute to achieving all six of President Neeli Bendapudi’s goals – from enhancing student success to serving our land grant mission, achieving research excellence, and more,” Krishnankutty said.
New University-wide ERGs to support other communities will be launched based on interest. Any employee interested in starting a new ERG can send an email to ergs@psu.edu for further information.