Office of Inclusion and Equity
The Office of Inclusion and Equity is a hub for candid, critical conversations that promote an inclusive environment by celebrating differences and engaging and supporting the community.
In honor of Women’s History Month, the next Diversity Dialogue Series takes place virtually on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 12pm noon.
Rebels and Sheroes: Indigenous Women Breaking Rules and Roles
Dr. LaDonna BlueEye will examine the societal and cultural roles of Native American women and will highlight current Indigenous women in leadership roles. Dr. BlueEye is an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She is the daughter of Virginia Jessie, granddaughter of Ida Maytubby, and great granddaughter of Nancy BlueEye. Dr. BlueEye received a M.P.H. from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and her Ph.D. from the School of Public Health at Indiana University in Bloomington. She completed post-graduate studies at Columbia University School of Social Work. Dr. BlueEye’s research interests include qualitative methodology in health behavior, health disparities, and culturally appropriate health interventions. She has presented her work and findings on the local, state, national and international levels, and collaborates with both non-Native and Native American communities.
The Diversity Dialogue Series is sponsored by the Office of Inclusion and Equity and the Office of Human Resources.
Login information for this event will be via Microsoft Teams. To register please contact Natalie Munas at natali5@uakron.edu.
Major activities
January
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February
March
International Women's Day
Black, Brown and Beyond Male Summit
June
November
ACTIONS
Dr. Shirla R. McClain Gallery Reopened
After an extensive renovation, the long-awaited reopening of the Dr. Shirla R. McClain Gallery occurred Friday, September 8, 2023, hosted by ÐÓ°®°É’s Office of Inclusion & Equity, The Myers School of Art, and the Dr. Shirla R. McClain Gallery Board.Land Acknowledgement – ÐÓ°®°É
University of Akron Land Acknowledgement
ÐÓ°®°É is located on lands that have been home to many diverse nations, including the Ohio Seneca and Cayuga, the Lenni Lenape (Delaware), the Miami, the Shawnee, the Wyandot (Wendat), the Ottawa (Odawa) and the Ojibwe Nations. These lands were ceded in the 1805 Treaty of Fort Industry and the forced removal of tribes through the Indian Removal Act of 1830. ÐÓ°®°É pays respect to the land and lives of Indigenous Nations past and present, and is committed to a process of continual learning, reflection and reconciliation.
About the Land Acknowledgement
A land acknowledgement is a statement of respect for Indigenous lands and a recognition of colonial occupation of those lands. It is likewise a reflection of our continuing process of learning about the heritage and contemporary cultures of Indigenous Peoples.
The land acknowledgement was researched and written by staff at the Cummings Center. The original research was reviewed by members of ÐÓ°®°É Arts and Culture Council and .
Diversity Roadmap Strategic Plan released
In a December 2021 memo to campus, President Miller released the Office of Inclusion and Equity Diversity Roadmap Strategic Plan.
Video: Northeast Ohio Online Vigil Against Anti-Asian Violence
The Northeast Ohio Online Vigil Against Anti-Asian Violence on March 19, 2021, was supported by ÐÓ°®°É , Asian Services in Action, the Akron NAACP, the Akron Civil Rights Commission, the United Way of Summit & Medina and many others. #StopAsianHate
STATEMENT ABOUT DIVERSITY
ÐÓ°®°É affirms the importance and value of diversity within the student body, and among our faculty, staff, administration and governing Board of Trustees. Our university values and respects the humanity of every individual from every background, and we embrace the diversity that defines UA and has so profoundly enriched our community.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES
See a list of our student organizations that serve students' cultural, religious and other interests.
Students: Learn about the Inclusive Excellence Action Team and how to participate.
DIRECTORY
- Advising: Four-Phase Advising or 4PAS
- Learning Communities
- LGBTQ+ resources and support
- Office of Academic and Retention Support (OARS)
- Office of Multicultural Development
- Orientation: "Advance," the two-day orientation for new multicultural students
- Peer Mentoring Services
- Scholarship opportunities, including the Underrepresented Students Scholarship
- Update your preferred biological information with UA using this form
WHO WE ARE
The goal of the Office of Inclusion and Equity is to increase the impact of UA’s inclusive excellence commitment, leading to wider understanding and greater success for all students.
The office reports directly to the president. Now consolidated within the office are a number of units, programs and events that represent a spectrum of diversity. They continue to be offered to directly contribute to matriculation, persistence and graduation from the University.
Wrice named vice president of inclusion and equity and chief diversity officer
Dr. Sheldon Wrice has been named vice president for inclusion and equity and chief diversity officer. In this role, Wrice will supervise the Office of Inclusion and Equity, Office of Multicultural Development, Multicultural Center and the Women's and Gender Resource Center. The Office of Accessibility has dual reporting lines to Student Affairs and the Office of Inclusion and Equity.
Office leaders
Director, Inclusion & Equity
Office of Inclusion & Equity
Jessica DeFago
Director
Office of Accessibility
Director
Office of Multicultural Development
Terry Vance
Associate Director, Diverse Male Initiatives
Natalie Munas
Administrative Assistant, Sr
Inclusion & Equity/Chief Diversity Officer
ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS
See the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Council roster.
Location
Office of Inclusion & Equity/Chief Diversity
InclusionandEquity@uakron.edu
Buchtel Hall 210
Akron, OH 44325-6237
330-972-6014