AATSEEL Certificate Program in Diverse and Inclusive Pedagogies (CDIPS)

AATSEEL has received a generous grant to fund a non-degree certificate program in inclusive pedagogy in Slavic languages and literatures. We are also grateful to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center (UI REEEC) for additional support for the program. Our program supplies professionals in the field of Slavic languages and literatures with the knowledge and training to address issues of diversity, inclusivity, equality, and justice in our teaching practice. We seek to foster community and to give teachers the tools they need to begin to address gaps and inequalities in the classroom, attract a broader range of students to the study of Russian/Slavic languages and literatures, and better support our learners of all cultural, linguistic, and gender identities and sexual orientations.

Applications are now open for the second of two cohorts of thirty participants. We invite professionals in the field at different levels, pre-college teachers, graduate students, and post-secondary faculty to apply.

The program will involve remote participation in workshop sessions before and after the February 16-19, 2023 AATSEEL conference (virtual), and participation in workshops and community-building events at the conference. At the end of the program, participants will design an actionable lesson or syllabus incorporating strategies from these sessions into their teaching practice. Participants will be asked to produce a detailed write-up of their project design and submit to the Program in mid to late July, 2023. AATSEEL will provide certificates of completion to participants, including for K-12 teachers seeking continuing education credits from their schools and districts, if applicable.

AATSEEL will provide the participants complimentary membership, if they are not already current members of the organization.

We anticipate that our cohort for the second year of the program will include 10 K-12 teachers, 10 graduate students, and 10 post-secondary faculty (any career stage, institution type, or employment status).

To apply, please fill out the online application, available through this link, including a 250-word explanation of how you anticipate that students would benefit from what you would learn during this program. Please review the schedule of sessions below and confirm your availability before applying. The deadline is October 23 at midnight Pacific time. Applicants will be informed about the status of their candidacy by October 30.

Please note that the CDIPS program is different and separate from the AATSEEL K-12 Teaching Excellence Program, which is for ten K-12 teachers.



Schedule of Pre-Conference Workshops (Zoom)



Participants are required to attend 3 of 4 sessions other than the initial, required asynchronous session that will be available starting November 1. Schedule subject to change; all times EST.


November 1, 2022 - November 20, 2022 (Asynchronous) Introduction to program, content, materials, goals, and outcomes

Sunday, November 20, 2022, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
“Supporting First-Generation Undergraduate and Graduate Students”
Sunnie Rucker-Chang (Ohio State University)

Sunday, December 11, 2022, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
“The World-Readiness Standards for Language Learning: A Framework for Your DEI Action Plan”
Ben Rifkin (Farleigh-Dickinson University)

Sunday, January 15, 2023, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
“Addressing LGBTQ Inclusivity in Russian Language and Culture Classrooms”
Brian Baer (Kent State University)

Sunday, January 29, 2023, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
“Multicultural Mentoring and Advising”
Tom Garza (University of Texas at Austin)


Schedule of Required Workshops at the AATSEEL Conference (Virtual)


Schedule subject to change; all times EST.

Friday, February 17, 2023, 1:15 – 2:30 pm
“There Is No “Hierarchy of Oppression”: Intersectionality and Inclusive Pedagogy”
Elizabeth Richmond-Garza (University of Texas at Austin)

Saturday, February 18, 2023, 1:15 - 2:30 pm
“Amplifying Student Voices from the Russian Language Classroom: K-12 and Beyond”
Lauren Nelson (Pritzker College Prep)

Sunday, February 19
1:15 - 2:30 pm
Project Showcase Panel I: Sample Lessons for Diversity and Inclusivity in SEEES
Participants from CDIPS ‘21-’22 cohort (Irina Meier, Melissa Miller, Lauren Nelson, Maria Whittle)

5:00 - 6:45 pm
Sample Lessons II and Toward an Action Plan.
Participants from CDIPS '21-'22 cohort (Jambul Akkaziev, Wendy Martelle, Lee Roby) and CDIPS moderators

Participants are welcome to attend any other conference events of interest to them, as long as they do not conflict with CDIPS required workshops.


Schedule of Post-Conference Workshops (Zoom)


Syllabus & Lesson Plan Workshop (mid- to end of June, 2023, exact dates TBD)

There will be at least one meeting* to develop and workshop final projects: the syllabus or lesson design applying the concepts and strategies covered in the pre-conference and conference sessions to teaching practice. The workshop(s) will focus on incorporating inclusive pedagogical strategies into course and lesson design in both course materials and classroom policies. After the workshop, participants will be asked to produce and submit a detailed write-up of their project design, to be submitted mid to late July, 2023.

*If necessary, we may offer more than one meeting to accommodate participants’ schedules and interests.

Participants are required to attend ONE of these sessions. Participants may choose which workshop better fits their interests and teaching circumstances.

These workshops will be scheduled shortly after the February conference. Please keep an eye on the website for updates.

If you have any questions, please contact CDIPS Project Manager Jillian Burgie Costello.