Employee Groups

The following employee organizations are available at Oakland University:

Affinity Groups:

AP Assembly
The AP Assembly is a professional organization comprised of all Administrative Professionals on campus. They serve in an advising capacity to the university president; have representation on the University Senate, as well as various Senate committees; provide opportunities for connection with their five committees (Recognition, Communications, Community Engagement, Personal and Professional Development, and Voice of the AP); and strive to develop community across campus.

AP Association
The AP Association provides a means of communication between all Administrative Professional employees and the University as employer in matters concerning wages, hours, and working conditions.

OU Anti-Racism Discussion Group This group of OU staff facilitates monthly conversations around topics relating to antiracism, and provides accompanying learning materials. The group also advocates putting these discussions into practice at the individual, group and community level. All OU staff (faculty, part-time employees, GAs, APs, CTs, etc.) are encouraged to participate.

Women in Science, Engineering, and Research (WISER) Women in Science, Engineering, and Research (WISER) focuses on recruitment, retention, and career development of faculty. Their impact and programming incorporate disciplines across campus.

Employee Resource Groups:

Employee resource groups are voluntary, employee-led groups made up of individuals who join together based on common interests, backgrounds or demographic factors such as gender, race or ethnicity. The following employee resource groups are available at Oakland University: 

AAPI Employee Resource Group The AAPI Employee Resource Group is a staff- and faculty-driven collective dedicated to supporting and advocating on behalf of all Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander employees at Oakland University.

Contact: Dr. Tomoko Wakabayashi, President of AAPI

[email protected]

Black Employee Resource Group (BERG) The mission of the Black Employee Resource Group is to provide resources which lead to personal and professional development, retention and career advancement for Oakland University Black faculty and staff.

Contact: Jessie Hurse, President of BERG

[email protected]

International Employee Resource Group (IERG) IERG is a member-driven organization which started in Fall 2012 semester officially. Their mission is to reach out to all foreign employees at OU, to create a knowledge and resource pool from their experiences regarding unique challenges foreign employees face at OU, to provide support for various communities at OU including international students and scholars, to create a culturally diverse campus environment, and to provide a forum for socialization for new and continuing foreign employees at OU.

Contact: Setareh Ghoreishi, President of IERG

[email protected]

Latinx Employee Resource Group It is the mission of the Latinx Employee Resource Group to provide personal and professional resources for the recruitment, retention, and success of Oakland University’s Latinx faculty, staff, and students.

Contact: Drs. Aura Cazares and Rebecca Jones, Co-Presidents of LERG

[email protected]; [email protected]

LGBTQIA Employee Resource Group The Oakland University LGBTQIA Employee Resource Group serves to foster an inclusive, open campus community, advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and allied people. The LGBTQIA ERG consists of LGBTQI individuals and allies interested in LGBTQIA issues for employees (administrators, staff, and faculty) at Oakland University.

Contact: Blake Bonkowski, President of LGBTQIA+ ERG

[email protected]

Women Employee Resource Group (WERG) The mission of WERG is to provide professional and personal development opportunities for women employees of Oakland University. WERG will also serve as an advocate for Oakland University women in regard to issues that impact them, at large, as employees.

Contact: Andreea Bordeianu, President of WERG

[email protected]

Veteran Employee Resource Group (VERG) The mission of VERG is to provide professional and personal resources for the recruitment, retention and development of Veterans and Veteran dependents on faculty and staff at Oakland University.

Contact: Lisa Rhoades, President of VERG

[email protected]