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Santa Clara University
Inclusive Excellence Division

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Building connections and fostering belonging for employees

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are voluntary, employee-led groups whose aim is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the organizations they serve. These groups create a welcoming, affirming, and inclusive environment for all staff employees through networking, mentoring, advocacy, professional development, and social gatherings.

Today, the ERGs operate under the auspices of the Inclusive Excellence Division and Human Resources. In addition, the ERGs maintain their historic links to the SCU Staff Senate, as it was originally through Staff Senate that the ERGs were formed in 2020. 

All SCU employees (faculty and staff) are eligible to participate in an ERG Group in which they self-identify.

If you have any questions and/or have ideas about additional ERGs, please reach out to the ERG Liaison Ray Plaza at rplaza@scu.edu.

Join an ERG Today!
  • The purpose of the APISA ERG at SCU is to foster community by providing a welcome space of support, networking, mentoring and advocacy for Asian Pacific Islander and South Asian staff and faculty.
  • The purpose of the Black/Pan-African ERG at SCU is to foster community by providing a welcome space of support, networking, mentoring and advocacy for Black/Pan-African staff and faculty.
  • Co-Leads: Marqus Koranteng, Assistant Director for Marketing & Programming, LEAD Scholars Program, and Bernell Nevil, Associate Director for Office of Multicultural Learning and the Rainbow Resource Center
  • The Disabilities and Chronic Illness Network welcomes all faculty and staff with disabilities. The purpose of the network is to meet one to two times per quarter to empower group members, provide a space for mentoring/co-mentoring and advocacy, and facilitate a welcoming environment for faculty and staff with disabilities. Allies are welcome at policy-focused meetings. 
  • Co-leads: Noël Kreidler (staff), Molly King (faculty) or Laura Ellingson (faculty).
  • The purpose of the Indigenous/Native American ERG at SCU is to foster community by providing a welcome space of support, networking, mentoring and advocacy for Indigenous/Native American staff and faculty.
  • Lead: Kathy Kale, Assistant Vice President, Alumni Relations

  • The purpose of the Latinx ERG at SCU is to foster community by providing a welcome space of support, networking, mentoring and advocacy for Latinx staff. This is our "Carne Asada," the "Tamalisa," the "Comadre, Compadre Time" to share en confianza the needs of our community as we aspire to abrir brecha or caminos for those that will join, are with, and will continue at SCU. We look forward to meeting you.  

  • Co-Leads: Amanda Chavez, Off Campus Area Coordinator for Off Campus Living (OCL), Office of Student Life (OSL), and Lorenzo Gamboa, Senior Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission

  • The purpose of the MENA ERG at SCU is to foster community by providing a welcome space of support, networking, mentoring and advocacy for Middle Eastern and North African staff and faculty.
  • The purpose of the Multifaith ERG at SCU is to foster community by providing a welcoming space of support, networking, and companionship for staff who would like to share their faith and/or spirituality with one another in fellowship. It is open to people of any or no faith tradition.

  • The purpose of the Rainbow Alliance ERG at SCU is to foster community by providing a welcome space of support, networking, mentoring/co-mentoring and advocacy for LGBTQ+ staff and faculty. We also support the greater SCU community as a resource pertaining to issues that impact the LGBTQ+ community

  • Co-Leads: Alejandra Ruiz, Marketing Operations Manager, University Marketing and Communications and Elise Dubravec, Campus Minister, Christian Life and Spiritual Formation, Campus Ministry