"In the pursuit of excellence, the University of North Carolina Wilmington actively fosters, encourages, and promotes inclusiveness, mutual respect, acceptance, and open-mindedness among students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. Diversity is an educational benefit that enhances the academic experience and fosters a free exchange of ideas from multiple perspectives. "
The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion is currently comprised of three departments: the Upperman African American Cultural Center, Centro Hispano, and the Center for Multi-Culturalism and Pre-College Programs, all engaged in coordinating the university’s diversity initiative by helping foster an educational climate that promotes intellectual interactions across campus and between the campus community and surrounding areas.
The Office provides avenues for inclusion for minority and non-minority faculty, staff, students, and community members and facilitates collaborative efforts to provide relevant programs and services throughout the year. In its program offerings, the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion primarily focuses on the coordination of multicultural community outreach and faculty involvement; the academic success of students; providing assistance in the development of merit-based scholarships; partnering with academic deans to review diversity plans and accomplishments; and an annual review with vice chancellors on diversity initiatives.
In an effort to diversify the campus community and facilitate a climate that encourages and supports diversity, programs offer dialogue on social justice issues, appearances by national and international performers in art, film, and music, and presentations by speakers on topics such as civil rights, journalism, literature, and politics.
About Us:
Dr. Debra Saunders-White serves as the Interim Associate Provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. She is assisted by Ms. Antoinette Gazda, Executive Assistant.
- Dr. Debra Saunders-White, 910-962-1043
- Ms. Antoinette Gazda, 910-962-1043 (e-mail: gazdaa@uncw.edu)
Units of the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion:
- Ms. Aretha Jones-Cook, Director, Upperman African American Cultural Center, 910-962-3540 (e-mail: Upperman@uncw.edu)
- Ms. Kimberley McLaughlin-Smith, Intercultural Coordinator, 910-962-4274 (email: smithkm@uncw.edu)
- Mr. Fermin Recarte, Director, Centro Hispano (e-mail: centrohispano@uncw.edu) 910-962- 2551
Organizational Chart (PDF requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
UNCW Diversity Plans and Reports:
What is Diversity? Diversity includes, but is not limited to race, sex, age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), creed, religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran’s status, gender, educational disadvantage, socio-economic circumstances, language, and history of overcoming adversity.
*Download Adobe Acrobat Reader
