Zens becomes project lead for IDEA at SURF

Today’s biggest science questions demand collaboration. Humans from across the globe pull together diverse ideas, valuable resources and hard-earned data to form theories, experiments and, eventually, make discoveries that could change the way we think about our Universe.

Science isn’t isolated. And neither are the systems that make science possible. At Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), these systems—the engineering, infrastructure, safety and administration efforts that support science, as well as the education and public outreach that spring from science—all require cooperation.

“This means ensuring that SURF is a welcoming and inclusive environment where all employees know that it's our shared responsibility to create that environment for others,” said Rochelle Zens, who recently joined SURF as project lead for the IDEA (inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Program.

The IDEA Program is managed by Deb Wolf, and includes K.C. Russell, who has been SURF’s cultural liaison to regional tribes since 2010.

“Rochelle has a strong commitment to the work,” said Wolf. “She is passionate about making every person feel heard and feel valued. On top of that, she brings years of experience and expertise to this team.”

That experience began in 2011, when Zens became tribal liaison for former US Senator Tim Johnson. In this role, Zens traveled throughout South Dakota, learning about the needs of the state’s tribal constituents, before working with the senator’s team in Washington, D.C. A member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Zens said this experience gave her a better understanding of local needs and how those needs were affected by federal policy making.

“Learning about those different perspectives really helped broaden my horizons, to see what life is like for different constituencies in the state,” Zens said. “It was such a great lens to learn how to talk with people, how to establish good relationships with people, regardless of their differences in opinion.”

After her work with Senator Johnson’s office, Zens worked with the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board and the Black Hills Knowledge Network before becoming assistant director for American Indian Studies at Black Hills State University. There, Zens worked to support students who are typically underrepresented in higher education. Zens brings a decade of experience in education, policy making, and communication to her role with the IDEA Program at SURF.

Currently, this team is developing a preliminary assessment of the IDEA culture at SURF.

“We want to understand where our team is right now, in terms of people's sense of belonging, their sense of engagement and their role in making SURF a place for diverse ideas to flourish,” Wolf explained. “Before we dive into the work, we need to determine what the work is.”

With this roadmap in hand, the IDEA team will work to ensure that both employee culture and facility policy reflect SURF’s Core Values, specifically in Care for Others, which states: “We embrace and honor the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We listen knowing everyone has something to offer and to learn.”

Through the IDEA Program, Zens looks forward to strengthening SURF’s collaboration with national and international communities, as well as those right here in South Dakota: “Having grown up here, I just really love the place and the people,” Zens said. “And I think there's a lot of great work to be done.”