An old African proverb says that in order to know where you are going you must know where you have been. For a university, that requires taking an honest look at a sometimes-painful history — for our state and the nation — with regard to underrepresented groups and their lack of access to higher education.

Through the work of the Division of Equity and Inclusion, the UO is also taking steps toward a better future, including a fundraising initiative designed to help boost efforts to remove barriers to a college degree and create a more welcoming campus.

“This fundraising effort in collaboration with University Development will help us build and secure a brighter future for the University of Oregon, allowing us to build a diverse faculty at the vanguard of research and creativity excellence," said Yvette M. Alex-Assensoh, vice president for the Division of Equity and Inclusion. "It will advance our work to ensure the representation of many cultures as well as perspectives on campus, help create a diverse, inclusive student body, and build a stronger academic foundation for the university. And it will help us shape graduates who are intellectually gifted, loving, authentic, empathetic and courageous.”

The Diversity Fund will be used to support faculty, students and programs. Using a model similar to dean’s funds in the UO’s schools and colleges, the fund will be used at the discretion of the vice president for equity and inclusion. This flexibility will enable the division to respond quickly to new challenges and opportunities when they arise.

The fund also will help the university recruit and retain outstanding faculty members who bring diverse perspectives and foster a culture of inclusiveness and respect, Alex-Assensoh said. It is also used to help underwrite scholarships and support students in many different ways. And it helps fund programs across campus that advance the university’s diversity mission.

“When deciding what to fund, we look for practical opportunities to leverage dollars, foster innovation and add value,” Alex-Assensoh said. “The Diversity Fund helps the university devise creative solutions to increase diversity, equity and inclusion. We are very grateful to the donors who invest in our efforts to provide equitable access to higher education and promote a climate in which diverse backgrounds and opinions facilitate a richer and more innovative academic climate.”

The impact of this work goes well beyond campus as students graduate, go on to start careers, get involved in their communities and make a difference in the world, Alex-Assensoh said.

To make a gift or learn more about the Diversity Fund, visit giving.uoregon.edu/diversity, or contact: Lisa Manotti, 541-346-5246, lmanotti@uoregon.edu

Read about how the Division of Equity and Inclusion helped build a more diverse faculty by recruiting Cathy Wong, a faculty member in the UO Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, in the story: Laser Guided Research.