Chapter Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
The Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society is committed to providing a safe,welcoming environment where those of all backgrounds and abilities can learn and network aswe celebrate fisheries science and management. The chapter’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion(DEI) committee works to put these values into action, especially on behalf of underrepresentedgroups. Please read on for the chapter’s DEI committee mission. Check back on this page periodically aswe continue to add more resources.
Mission:
The mission of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Illinois Chapter ofthe American Fisheries Society (ILAFS) is to understand challenges affecting diversity, equity,and inclusion in the Chapter and suggest avenues to address these challenges. Only with activeparticipation from ILAFS leadership and membership can we enrich our Chapter by identifyingand removing historic, institutional, and systemic disparities that have limited our growthtowards a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive fisheries profession. We endeavor to cultivate awelcoming environment that serves all individuals of the fisheries community, encouraging arichness of perspectives and contributions. We strive for fairness in providing resources, access,and opportunities, especially to historically underrepresented or marginalized groups. We willactively cultivate a Chapter that intentionally respects, values, and includes all individuals, andembraces meaningful contribution and participation.
DEI resources:
We are just one small part of a larger effort to promote increased diversity, equity, and inclusionwithin the fisheries field. Work is well underway at a national level to address these issues.Please visit the American Fisheries Society’s
website for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in
Fisheries for more information, including an excellent resource list and episodes of the Fisheries
Diversity and Inclusion podcast.
Diverse Voices Scholarship
This grant provides support for students from underrepresented groups and/or schools that are not active within the ILAFS chapter (i.e., any Illinois college program that is NOT Eastern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). Up to 10 grants will be awarded. Registration fees to attend the ILAFS annual meeting will be waived for all recipients. Up to five recipients will also receive a $200 travel grant to offset conference travel and lodging fees. Applications can be found HERE:
https://forms.gle/oVnkw9ugWT63qyzS9Applications for 2026 close on January 23, 2026.