Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
AWS Promotes Diversity
AWS values diversity, advocates equitable and inclusive practices, and engages its members and stakeholders in establishing a culture in the welding community that welcomes, learns from, and celebrates differences among people. AWS recognizes that a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is essential to achieving excellence for the Association, its members, and employees.
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the American Welding Society:
- Keeps abreast of best practices, trends & innovations, and educates the broader AWS community on the tenets, principles and outcomes of inclusive excellence practices
- Develops, recommends, and implements external relations and outreach to advance the Society’s vision of inclusive excellence
- Develops, recommends and implements a holistic approach for diversity and inclusion efforts throughout the Society
- Increases engagement by establishing and leveraging relationships with underrepresented groups in the welding community and in AWS committees and membership
- Takes a proactive stance in outreach, relationship-building and collaboration with internal and external stakeholder groups; collects and analyzes data, and shares information on diversity and inclusion efforts with the Board of Directors and other stakeholders
- Collaborates with other standing committees on developing strategies, ideas, & short and long-term programming designed to increase diversity and advance inclusion efforts in the Society membership and leadership
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Members:
Lynn Showalter, Chair
Shanen Aranmor
Nancy Cole
Debbie Doench
Mitchell Grams
Pierrette Gorman
Stewart Harris
Lee Kvidahl
William Newell
Sayee Raghunathan
Robert Roth
Matthew Vieira
Dean Wilson
Brandy Killeen, Future Leader Representative
Andrea Orr, Future Leader Representative
Robert Watson, Future Leader Representative
Hannah Wolf, Future Leader Representative
Richard Polanin, Ex-Officio
Anthony Anderson, Ex-Officio
Gary Konarska, Ex-Officio
Monica Pfarr, Secretary
