Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer's September Letter

September 12, 2023 - Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D.

Greetings, 

I hope this message finds you well and ready for the fall 2023 semester. I am excited to share numerous diversity, equity and inclusion updates, and as we return to campus, it is also important to acknowledge and reflect upon the challenges we face and opportunities that lie ahead.

In July, leaders on campus came together at the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion’s 2nd annual Summer Leadership Institute, or SLI, to connect, share knowledge, and reaffirm our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Seeing campus leaders and DEI practitioners collaborating to advance our shared goals was heartening. 

The work we do in this regard is crucial and it requires all of us to partner across differences to reinforce belonging, which is why I am sharing a link to key takeaways from SLI to explore. I hope the campus community can utilize these learnings as a resource throughout the academic year.

We can build a more inclusive and equitable society through our collective efforts in solidarity. Being different together is our strength.

Best wishes for a most successful fall semester and Go Green!

Sincerely,

Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D. (he/him)

Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer