From Principles to Practice (Presentation Slides)

From Principles to Practice: The Implementation of the Revised Antiracism Toolkit for Allies in Scholarly Publishing

Faye DeBroux, Duke University Press, Nataliia Kaliuzhna, Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology, Damita Snow, American Society of Civil Engineers, and Randy Townsend, George Washington University

This session, grounded in a collaborative initiative launched by C4DISC and SSP, presents a revised Antiracism Toolkit for Allies—a dynamic, actionable framework designed to empower publishing professionals in dismantling systemic racism by creating workplace communities where everyone strives. Given the escalating political polarization and global rise of far-right movements, university and society presses face increased challenges in upholding ethical, inclusive, and antiracist publishing practices, what making such resources essential for advancing equity within scholarly communication. Attendees will explore the framework of allyship, examining its role as a strategic approach for supporting antiracist practices and promoting equity. A special focus of the presentation will be on applying the toolkit’s principles to organizational policies and workflows, equipping presses with the tools to not only adapt but lead in promoting equity and justice in publishing today.

Faye DeBroux is the International Library Sales Manager at Duke University Press. Faye joined DUP in May 2023, continuing a career working in international publishing sales, including nine years at Pearson in various roles marketing their educational technologies and e-book in international markets. Faye covers the Middle East, Turkey, northern Africa, the Caribbean, Japan, Latin America including Brazil, Poland, India, Pakistan, eastern Europe, the UK and the Nordics.

Nataliia Kaliuzhna is a Research Associate at TIB – Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology and a PhD candidate in Library and Information Science at Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. Her research interests include knowledge production and open research, scholarly communication, and open access. In addition to her formal employment and academic work, Nataliia is actively involved in community initiatives. She serves as an Associate Editor at the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and is a member of the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee.

Damita Snow, CAE, ENV SP, is the Director of Accessibility & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy, Publications & Standards at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). She has played a pivotal role in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, serving as the founder and past chair of ASCE’s Staff Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Council, current advisor to the ASCE Publications & Standards DEIA Committee, and a founding member of the Society for Scholarly Publishing’s DEIA Committee. Beyond her DEIA leadership, she holds prominent positions on the boards of Black Association Executives and serves as President-elect of the Society for Scholarly Publishing. Additionally, she previously served as a board member for Association Media & Publishing (AM&P) and the Research Committee of the ASAE Research Foundation.

Randy Townsend is a visionary leader who transforms organizational goals into powerful, actionable strategies that drive collaboration, success, and integrity. With nearly two decades of expertise, Randy has been at the forefront of policy innovation and publishing strategy, setting new standards for responsible publishing practices and research integrity. He is a sought-after speaker, author, and collaborator. During his term as President of the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP),he championed a pioneering industry-wide mental health awareness initiative. Randy Townsend spearheads peer review engagement strategies for Origin Publishing & Peer Review. He was the inaugural Editor in Chief for the award-winning GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing and is an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University.