Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Multicultural Affairs Committee (DEI-MAC)

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Multicultural Affairs Committee (DEI-MAC) is comprised of students, faculty and staff from the School of Dentistry with the purpose of promoting diversity and planning activities that celebrate different cultures.

The DEI-MAC will contribute to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s process for achieving excellence through diversity by:

• Providing directions for change and promoting progress based on current and previous findings of the Multicultural Initiatives Committee
• Acting as an advisory committee to the Dean of School and providing yearly progress reports to the Dean for dissemination
• Supporting other groups and committees in promoting multiculturalism and diversity

The committee meets on the second Tuesday of the month. Dental student members are appointed for a three year term and dental hygiene students a two year term, with the new member being accepted once per year, usually in the Fall.

ABOUT IDA GRAY

Ida Gray, Class of 1890, was:

• First black woman to graduate from the U-M School of Dentistry
• First black woman to earn DDS degree
• First black woman to practice dentistry in Chicago

These few facts about the life of Ida Gray are from university records. In response to a request for information from University’s Alumni records Office in 1910, Dr. Gray wrote that she was born on March 4, 1867, in Clarksville, Tennessee. In 1920, however, she wrote that she was born on March 4, 1870, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

There are indications Ms. Gray became interested in dentistry in Cincinnati when she came under the influence of Dr. Jonathan Taft, the founding dean of our School. Dr. Taft was an early advocate of women dentists. He was the only dentist in Cincinnati who was willing to accept a determined young woman as an apprentice in his office in 1859--that was Lucy Hobbs, who was to become the first woman dentist.

Ida Gray made it known in her later years that she had worked in the Cincinnati office of Dr. Taft before she entered our school in October 1887. Her student record notes Dr. Taft was her preceptor. At the time of Ida’s 1890 graduation, 22 women had matriculated in our dental school.

At the time Ida entered the Dental College (1887), the curriculum was in transition from a two-year to a three-year program. She returned to Cincinnati following graduation and practiced there until 1895 when she married James S. Nelson and moved to Chicago. They resided on State Street, and Ida became Chicago’s first black woman dentist. For the 1900 U-M Alumni Catalogue, she wrote her husband’s full name as, “Captain James S. Nelson, attorney.”

By 1903, their address was 3652 Wabash Avenue, another famous Chicago street, and it remained her home until her death. An updated clipping from her stationary contains her professional name, Ida Gray Nelson, D.D.S.

In 1929, Ida married William Rollins, and used the name of Dr. Ida N. Rollins for rest of her life. Ida died on May 3, 1953. Her obituary in the Chicago Tribune noted that Dr. Ida Nelson Rollins, 87, had retired in 1928 and that Mr. Nelson died in 1938. There was no indication that Ida had children.

NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS

Nominees must be a faculty member (current or alumni), staff member or student with present or past affiliation with the School of Dentistry. They should possess two or more of the following criteria:

• Commitment to diversity
• Shows creativity in creating a climate of care, acceptance and welcome
• Offers their talents to continuing a climate of welcome and change
• Willingness to serve as mentor or role model in the issues of diversity
• Assists in the education of diversity through speaking, writing and living by example
• Works to create new dialogue among persons of diverse cultural backgrounds

SUBMITTING A NOMINATION

Nominations for Ida Gray awards can be made at any time by sending a document that includes the nominee's name and the school role (faculty, staff, student [class year]) and explanation why this person should receive an Ida Gray award based on the award criteria (above). The document should be sent to to the following DEI-MAC co-chairs:

• Gail Oljace, goljace@umich.edu
• Dr. Larry Salzmann, salzmann@umich.edu