A University-Wide Commitment to Fostering Diversity and Inclusion

In the aftermath of the brutal death of George Floyd and other black individuals, University of New Haven President Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D., announced a series of initiatives aimed at “enriching our University community, reinforcing the importance of an education that includes a critical examination of race and ethnicity, and ensuring we are at the forefront of instilling in the next generation of leaders – particularly those who take an oath to serve and protect us – the ideals that unite communities, empower racial equality, and transcend division.”

In a letter to the University community, President Kaplan said, “It is incumbent on all of us to do more for black members of our community and those in historically marginalized groups, speak up against injustice, denounce police brutality, ensure racial equality, and condemn all acts of racism and intolerance. Inaction and silence are not options.

Among the plans he outlined, President Kaplan committed to appointing a cabinet-level individual to assist him and provide institutional leadership on issues of diversity. Subsequently, he announced the appointment of Lorenzo Boyd, Ph.D., as vice president for diversity and inclusion/chief diversity officer. Dr. Boyd has served as the University of New Haven’s assistant provost for diversity and inclusion and director of the Center for Advanced Policing and is a nationally recognized authority on community policing and racial justice.

Dr. Boyd immediately announced a set of priorities for his new position and expressed that he will be reaching out to faculty, staff, students, and alumni to help the University meet those challenges.

President Kaplan also announced:

• A vigorous examination of ways to incorporate required classes and co-curricular programming across the University curriculum that is focused on fostering meaningful dialogue on race, diversity, and inclusion and combatting racism and intolerance;
• An examination of the University’s policies and procedures regarding the identification, investigation, and resolution of incidents of racism, bigotry, and intolerance with an aim toward effecting a better way forward;
• And a charge to the University’s leadership team with developing a plan – with deadlines and expectations – to quickly and extensively diversify our faculty and staff so that it is more representative of the students we teach.

We will be sharing more about the University’s progress on these priorities in the future.

To view a story about a recent University discussion on race and social justice, please click here.