The President’s Council on Diversity & Inclusion will hold two public forums in January to gather ideas about ways GW can improve and promote diversity on campus.
The first forum will be held from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 12 in the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom. GW students, faculty, staff and other community members are invited to attend.
President Steven Knapp launched the diversity and inclusion initiative earlier this year. The key components of the initiative include the establishment of a President’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion and the creation of the position of vice provost for diversity and inclusion.
The council is composed of members representing the breadth of the university community. Its role is to generate ideas and formulate recommendations for increasing the university’s effectiveness in reaching out to persons of all backgrounds, and to provide advice and feedback to the associate provost for diversity and inclusion.
Fourteen council members were selected by President Knapp in the spring along with two co-chairs: Gregory Squires, professor of sociology and public policy and public administration, and Helen Cannaday Saulny, associate vice president and dean of freshmen.
The forum will begin with remarks from President Knapp. Dr. Squires and Dean Cannaday will then moderate a brainstorming session.
“The purpose of this forum is for us to hear from the various segments of the GW community,” says Dr. Squires.
Later in the forum, participants will have an opportunity to focus and provide feedback on specific populations and experiences, such as students and alumni, staff, faculty and the wider GW external community.
“We are excited to host the forum to allow more opportunities for the university community to participate in shaping and developing our recommendations,” Dean Cannaday.
A search is currently underway for a vice provost for diversity and inclusion, who will provide leadership on all aspects of educational and employment equity, access, cultural understanding and competency and human rights.
A second forum will be held on the Virginia Science and Technology Campus from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 20 in Enterprise Hall, room 176.
“We want to hear what the community has to say about the issues of diversity and inclusion on campus,” says Dr. Squires.
Comments can also be submitted on the council’s web site.