Justice for dr. arameh anvarizadeh

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The story

In June 2022, students, faculty and staff of the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy received an email from Associate Dean and Chair Dr. Grace Baranek that Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh would be replaced as Director of Admissions. Over time, it became clear that this decision was unilaterally made by Drs. Grace Baranek and Julie Gray ***while Dr. A was on protected medical leave after maternity leave***While Grace and Julie maintain that they are not liable to explain the reason behind this decision due to vague “HR policy,” we believe that their reason is in plain sight:

As the first Black Iranian woman to become the Vice President of the American Occupational Therapy Association and youngest woman of color inducted into its prestigious Roster of Fellows, Dr. A has spent her career advocating for marginalized populations. She spearheaded holistic admissions at Chan and brought in the 2 most diverse classes of students in Chan history. Since her removal, there has been a visible decline in students from structurally marginalized communities–Black men in particular.

For the past 9 months, students, staff, and faculty have made various attempts to hold Grace and Julie accountable for their decision: individual conversations, advocacy during Full Division meetings, engagement in “community-building circles” held by the Division, Title IX cases, etc. We even sent our petition with over 100 signatures to USC President Carol Folt and Dr. Christopher Manning, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at USC, and received a patronizing response.

We have been consistently met with denial, diversion, and silencing of our voices. So we are here to reclaim our power and show you the USC you don’t see–and what’s actually happening at the “#1” Occupational Therapy program in the nation. Like Dr. A, we dream of an occupational therapy profession that is truly welcoming, inclusive, and equitable towards students of all identities and walks of life.

About us

We're a grassroots collective of USC Chan occupational therapy students & faculty unwaveringly committed to anti-oppressive organizing #JusticeForArameh

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