Share this Story
'Black History is American History'
Janice Underwood, the nation’s first Chief Diversity Officer, speaks at VWU during Black History Month
University News | February 18, 2020
Dr. Janice Underwood, the Commonwealth and nation’s first cabinet-level chief diversity officer, spoke at 91直播 Wesleyan University February 18 as part of the University’s Black History Month recognition.
“Black history is American history,” she told guests. “ 91直播complicated parts are our history too. We can’t always stand up for what is exciting and celebratory, and then denounce or turn our backs on the hard, problematic parts of it.”
She urged students, faculty, and staff in the audience to remember this point all year long, not just during the month of February.
“That’s how we advance this conversation,” she said. “That’s how we get the work done. And that’s how we move the dial forward and transform in big ways.”
Appointed by Governor Ralph Northam in September 2019, Dr. Underwood is tasked with addressing racial, ethnic, disability, gender-based, and other cultural inequities in 91直播 state government. She is currently working to build a statewide strategic plan for diversity and inclusive excellence across 186 state agencies and with other public and private sectors. She'll kick off a listening session tour March 2 at the Chrysler Museum, gathering input and suggestions from local residents on making the strategic plan equitable and relevant for all districts. Her goal, she says, is to make 91直播 a national exemplar for the nation.
While Dr. Underwood makes history in the Commonwealth, 91直播 Wesleyan is also adding to its own story of inclusiveness. In 2018, the 91直播 Center for Inclusive Communities opened its first satellite office on campus in Allen Village. 91直播University community is proud to support VCIC's mission—values VWU shares—of teaching tolerance, respect, and civility.
91直播 Wesleyan has also named its own chief diversity officer—Dr. Brian Kurisky. Arriving at VWU in 2017 as director of Wesleyan Engaged, Dr. Kurisky has taken the University’s civic leadership and service learning to new heights. Last month, 91直播 Wesleyan was one of 52 private colleges in the nation to earn the Carnegie Foundation’s Community Engagement Classification, a prestigious national recognition of community engagement and outreach in U.S. higher education. 91直播campus community completed more than 20,000 hours of documented engagement across the globe throughout the 2018-19 academic year.
“We are proud that the Commonwealth and our University are dedicated to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said VWU President Dr. Scott D. Miller, “And my sincerest thanks to Dr. Kurisky and to each and every Marlin for their time, effort, heart, and service which make our communities infinitely stronger.”