Create and sustain a campus environment where the active, intentional, and ongoing commitment to incorporate a broad range of human experiences and perspectives is a critical element of GW’s pursuit of excellence in learning, research and service.
Mission
The Office is a campus-wide resource for individuals and units engaged in efforts to facilitate, sustain and advance an organizational culture and climate that supports principles of access, equity, inclusion and community. To that end, our mission is to promote, advocate, support and advance the institution’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as a strategic priority.
With the President’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion and the University Committee on the Status of Women: Faculty and Librarians as resource committees for the office, Diversity and Inclusion’s mission is built upon four main pillars: Education and Training, Institutional Capacity-Building, Monitoring and Assessment, and Community Building (access and support).
"The George Washington University has a long history of equal opportunity and a strong commitment to diversity. But there is more we can do to build the diversity of our student body, faculty and staff, and to make sure we are providing a welcoming and supportive environment for persons of all backgrounds." – President Steve Knapp
GW High5 Challenge
The GW High5 challenge invites members of the GW community – alumni, students, parents, faculty, and staff – to vote for their favorite 5 university programs to compete for challenge funding.
Initiatives within the office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion are part of the GW High 5 challenge. The Diversity and Inclusion initiative and the Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service initiative have the chance to win $20,000 in additional funding!
High 5 Challenge Update
We did not qualify as a finalist in the Challenge but your support is still needed. See which GW initiatives qualified and how you can still support initiatives for Diversity and Inclusion and the Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service.
Black Heritage Celebration 2013
The George Washington University presents Black Heritage Celebration, The Black Empire: Rooted. Colored. Crowned.
The Black Heritage Celebration is a series of events and programs created by GW students, faculty and staff that highlight the rich, dynamic and significant contributions of African-Americans to American history, culture and life. Events will include a keynote address by Jeff Johnson, award winning journalist, activist and motivational speaker on February 5, at the Marvin Center, Betts Theatre.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For additional information and a schedule of events, please visit our website or contact the GW Black Heritage Celebration Committee at blackheritagecelebration@gmail.com or at 202-994-0478.
2013 MLK Day Celebration
The GW community kicks off the yearlong series Pro[Claiming] Freedom with the 2013 MLK Day Celebration. The Pro[Claiming] Freedom series commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. As part of the celebration of the life and legacy of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., the George Washington University hosted an evening forum entitled, “Complicated Legacies: Lincoln, King and Obama. Read more about the event and see the video at GW Today.
“The Power of Words”
The Interfaith Dinner is held annually at GW and presents an opportunity for students to share and discuss the commonalities in their varied faiths and experiences. Read more about the Interfaith Dinner and see video from the 2012 dinner at GW Today.
LGBTQ Studies Symposium
The 7th Annual DC Metro LGBTQ Studies Symposium presents Intricate Identities: Exploring the Intersections of Race, Culture and Ability in the LGBTQ Community. This academic and research symposium will be held Saturday, November 3rd, 2012 at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. The Symposium is a collaborative effort among American University, Gallaudet University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, the George Washington University and the University of Maryland, College Park.
The goal is to provide a forum for knowledge sharing and networking that furthers education, emboldens activists and provide professional development opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally person. The Symposium is free and open to anyone with an interest in LGBTQ issues. For more information, please contact Jacob Wilson at jwilson@gwu.edu or visit the Symposium page on the MSSC site. Register today for the LGBTQ Studies Symposium
GW Athletics and Recreation Launches You Can Play Campaign
In Partnership with the You Can Play Project, GW Releases Video Supporting Inclusion of LGBT Athletes
The George Washington Department of Athletics and Recreation launched today a video campaign supporting inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender athletes in all facets of GW's 23 intercollegiate varsity athletics programs and campus health and wellness initiatives.
The video features 18 current GW student-athletes and Director of Athletics and Recreation Patrick Nero. A national media outreach campaign promoting the video was also launched today, and it is featured at YouCanPlayProject.org.
"We are committed to celebrating and supporting LGBT student-athletes," said Director of Athletics and Recreation Patrick Nero. "Our student-athletes will be judged by the spirit they bring to the game, their support of the teammates and their dedication to GW, not by sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. At GW, if you can play, you can play."
The George Washington University has embraced an ambitious agenda to move us forward in becoming a more diverse and inclusive community. By incorporating a broad range of human experiences and a rich variety of human perspectives, GW seeks to enlarge its campus communities' capacity for learning, enrich the quality and texture of campus life, and better prepare all students and student-athletes for life and leadership in society.
"The George Washington University's commitment to diversity and inclusion fully embraces the unique contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, staff, faculty and alumni," said Timothy Kane, director of the GW LGBT resource center. "The `You Can Play' video created by our Athletics Department showcases that commitment and affirms GW's status as a leader in celebrating and supporting LGBT athletes and students everywhere."
Individuals appearing in the video include (in order): Seth Rudolph (men's soccer), Amanda Zakeri (softball), Sara Mostafa (women's basketball), Phillip Graeter (men's swimming), Katherine Berry (women's water polo), Nefertiti Roy (gymnastics), Julia Weir (women's cross country), Juliana Stern (women's cross country), Nicole Lacey (lacrosse), Tara Booker (women's basketball), Kayla Carto (gymnastics), Will Ellingson (men's rowing), Siddhi Salvi (women's cross country), Zakeri, John Kopriva (men's basketball), Dwayne Smith (men's basketball), Abdul Shaban (men's soccer), Roy, Patrick Nero (director of athletics and recreation), Patricio Garino (men's basketball), Zakeri, Nemanja Mikic (men's basketball), Graeter and Stern.
2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Award
and The 2012 King Commendation
GW's Graduate School of Political Management and Allied in Pride Graduate Students, hosted Gautam Raghavan, Associate Director of Public Engagement and LGBT Liaison at The White House Office of Public Engagement, and Kei Koizumi, Assistant Director for Federal Research and Development at The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, for a panel discussion on their roles, LGBT policy and The White House's involvement and efforts to engage the LGBT community. Dr. Terri Reed, GW's Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, moderated the discussion.
"Evening with Toni Morrison" event and bench dedication ceremony highlight author's legacy. Read more and view photos from the event at GWToday.
GW President's Council on Diversity and Inclusion Releases Findings
The George Washington University President’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion today released Diversity: A Key to Academic Excellence -- the university’s first report that proposes key recommendations for institutional diversity strategies.
