The University of Virginia Finds Strength in Differences

Students are coming to universities like UVA with different perspectives of the world, different ideologies and different lived experiences. Our job is to equip them with the ability to navigate and appreciate those differences.

There are so many ways. For instance, we partner with our Center for Teaching Excellence to make sure we’re creating inclusive courses and supporting our faculty by creating inclusive classrooms. In our [DEI] division, we make sure that we’re partnering on signature events around important cultural month programming. Most importantly for me is being able to lean into co-creation — working with students themselves to support desired outcomes around diversity, equity and inclusion that they believe will create a stronger sense of belonging.

One of the areas that has been important for the university is the creation of the President’s Council on UVA-Community Partnerships. Creating strong community partnerships is important in areas like affordable housing or the local economy, or talent pipelines and pathways. … It allows us to be as creative and innovative as possible to make the region stronger.