Meet Mechanical Engineering’s new Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer

ME’s new Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer shares the experiences that led him to DEI work and efforts underway to increase representation in the department.

Read the full article on the Mechanical Engineering (ME) departmental page to learn more about Corey’s background, how he transitioned into higher education, his responsibilities in this new role, and the importance of including DEI work into the ME office.


“Less than a year after he became ME’s first Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer — a position jointly created by the department and the College of Engineering’s Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE) — Corey Clay has been busy facilitating discussions about topics like critical race theory, working with student groups and faculty and creating a long-term plan to improve representation in ME. This year, Clay received the Alfred Adler Social Justice Award from Adler University, where he is currently working on his Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology. Here, Clay shares what drew him to the UW and DEI work and what he’s looking forward to in his new role.

What led you to this role?

In 2020, my wife and I moved from Houston to Vancouver, B.C. Then George Floyd was murdered, and not long after I created the Pacific Northwest Institute for Racial Trauma (PNIRT). Through PNIRT, I give talks on racial trauma, anti-racism, allyship and workplace inclusion, with a focus on having conversations about the Black male form and what that entails, including the inherent dangers.

After moving to Seattle about a year ago, I worked at a homeless shelter while pursuing graduate studies and opportunities to focus on DEI work. As an academic, as well as a U.S. Army veteran and former law enforcement officer, I felt like I had this wealth of knowledge that I could use when working with students, faculty and staff to implement DEI into a strategy. I’m continuing to work on my Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology. That discipline pairs well with DEI.” …

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By Meaghan Wood (She/Her)
Meaghan Wood (She/Her) Career Coach