UW Launches Womens Employee Network

The University of Wyoming Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is launching a Women’s Employee Network (E-Net) in addition to the other employee network groups launched in fall 2019.

Jennifer Chavez, director of enterprise information technology infrastructure and security, will serve as the Women’s E-Net team leader, and Tara Evans, general counsel, will serve as the champion for this group.

E-Nets, also known as Employee Resource Groups and synonymous with Affinity Groups, are voluntary, employee-led groups whose memberships are typically based on specific demographic groups. They are dedicated to a diverse and inclusive environment that align with the mission, values and goals of an organization.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) considers the E-Nets to be an integral component for diverse and underrepresented employee recruitment and retention. The ODEI and the Subcommittee on Recruitment and Retention of the Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion selected demographic groups with social identities that align with the mission and goals of the ODEI. Although the E-Nets are community specific, they acknowledge and make room for multiple social identities to collaborate and partner inclusively and broadly.

The E-Nets are open to all faculty and staff, full time or part time. The ODEI requests employees have social identities that align with the E-Nets they join. Sign-ups are open all year long. Email diversity@uwyo.edu or call 766-6672 for more information.

The E-Nets launched during 2019-2020 are Asian and Pacific Islander E-Net; African American and Black E-Net; Latinx and Hispanic E-Net; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) E-Net; and Native American and Indigenous People E-Net. For more information on the E-Nets, click here.