OEI Newsletter - November 2025

By Jess Dillard-Wright
Associate Dean of Equity & Inclusion
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing

Honoring Heritage and Identity This November

As we approach the end of the year and the coming winter, we honor Native American Heritage Month in November. Learn more about the contributions of Indigenous nurses from the National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association or by listening to an episode of the podcast Nurse Converse, featuring Sonia Frazier and Taloa Sharp. They discuss their experiences as Native nurses working to honor tradition while dismantling systemic barriers to Indigenous health. 

November 20 marks Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). Starting as a vigil in honor of Rita Hester, a transgender woman murdered in 1999, TDOR has since been held annually to commemorate and show solidarity with the transgender community. The UMass Amherst Stonewall Center offers trans- and queer-centered events, activities, and resources year-round.

Upcoming Events

Be sure to check out the UMass Office of Equity and Inclusion events page for offerings honoring these dates and many others! The UMass Events Calendar also has much to offer.

Connect with EMCON OEI

Please reach out if I can assist support, brainstorm, or connect. jdillardwrig [at] umass [dot] edu (Email me) or feel free to drop by my office in Skinner Hall, rm. 130. You can also share your feedback through this form. And don’t forget— Community + Connection + Conversation meets every Monday from noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom. All are welcome— simply email me for the Zoom link.