A letter to our students and trainees:

The mission of the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology is to provide an educational and research environment that is supportive and welcoming of all individuals across race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and religion. We strongly believe that education is a transformative experience for our students and trainees, and that their advances benefit the communities of our department, UConn, the nation and world. We endeavor to foster a learning community that is inclusive to all individuals, and to support you in your educational and personal journeys while at UConn and into the future.

It is not enough to not be racist. We must be anti-racist in our beliefs and in our actions. That is why the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UConn continues to support and amplify voices of reason and science at UConn, and the scientific community at large. In this era of misinformation, science and evidence-based critical thinking can help solve national and global issues to make our whole society better.

We are outraged and saddened by the continued violence and discrimination towards Black communities in our society. The adversarial responses to peaceful public protests are outrageous and disheartening. We acknowledge that white privilege and implicit bias negatively impact minority communities. We acknowledge that health, wealth, and educational disparities and inequities of opportunity exist in our society. We vow to continue to work to address these issues in our professional and personal roles in our community. Like President Obama, we see the “limitless potential” in each of you, and you deserve a place to work and learn where you can reach your utmost potential.

Black Lives Matter.