Mission
To foster a just, inclusive, and thriving campus community where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered. We cultivate education opportunities, uplift authentic dialogue, celebrate intersectionality, and build intentional relationships to mitigate bias, promote holistic wellness, and advance Penn’s commitment to belonging.
On This Page
Guiding Principles
Services Provided
(While the primary focus of IISJE is student support, the office can also be a valuable resource for Penn staff, faculty, and alumni)
Social Justice and Identity-Based Educational Training and Workshops
Community Building Program Development
Dialogue and Discussion Facilitation
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Consultation
Student Group Advising
Professional Moderation
Resource Referral
Educational Programming
Our workshops empower individuals to embrace their diverse identities, foster inclusive communities, and create positive change on our campus and beyond. Through interactive experiences and critical dialogue, we explore the complexities of identity, the impact of bias, strategies for promoting equity and building empathy across difference.
Key Themes
Identity Exploration: Understanding the multifaceted nature of self, how it shapes our worldviews, and how we engage across differences.
Inclusive Communities: Building environments where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered.
Social Justice: Challenging systemic inequalities and advocating for a more equitable society.
Authenticity: Embracing one’s true self and fostering genuine connections.
Empathy: Encouraging and empowering students and campus community members to build capacity for empathy, especially across differences.
Workshop Highlights
Join us in creating a more just and equitable world! For more detailed workshop descriptions and to request a workshop, please contact Malik via email at malikmuh@upenn.edu. Customizable workshops are also available. We will do our best to meet your needs; if we can’t, we’ll point you in the direction of a resource that can!
Broadening Your Perspectives:
Stand Up, Speak Out:
Fostering Authenticity in Academic Environments:
And many more...!
Events Calendar
Student Events Calendar
Who We Are
Malik Muhammad (he/him) is the Inaugural Director of Inclusion Initiatives and Social Justice Education in University Life. A Philadelphia native, Malik holds a bachelor’s in psychology as well as a Master’s in Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs from West Chester University (WCU) in Pennsylvania. A proud brother of the Pennsylvania Tau Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Malik’s passion for social justice began at an early age as he is the son and grandson of phenomenal change agents in the Philadelphia African American Muslim community.
That passion was reignited and flourished throughout his six-year academic and para-professional career at WCU. There he realized the deep significance of social justice advocacy, education, and working with an intersectional lens at the higher education level and in all walks of life.
Now, years later, Malik is an agent of change himself. Within his role at Penn, he serves the campus community by fostering opportunities for education, discussion, and dialogue around identity that looks to mitigate bias and harm. As a sibling to the Cultural Resource Centers and several other campus partners, he works to cultivate intentional community building that continues Penn’s mission of inclusion and belonging, celebrating and uplifting the many vibrant communities that make up our campus.
Malik also works to serve the Philadelphia community at large as a member of the Colours Organization Board and as a talented local artist/entertainer. From the moment you meet him, Malik’s genuine, energetic, and optimistic nature is undeniable and, often, quite contagious. If you haven’t already, find out for yourself!