Updates from the Office of Equity & Inclusion

Warm greetings from the Office of Equity and Inclusion. As the quarter progresses, I write with several updates and announcements.

The Center for Equity and Inclusion (CEI) has experienced a lot of change over the last few years, but our ability to serve students and advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion has not wavered. Despite the complex challenges we face and the uncertainty of this moment, together we remain committed to making the CEI a community-centered place for all students, staff and faculty where we celebrate diversity as a strength.

To learn about how we create a sense of belonging and invite all students to engage, check out our annual report for program highlights that built on last year’s theme of cultivating joy in the pursuit of social justice. Going forward this year, we are focused on empowering community through service and advocacy. Here are a few items of special note.

Save the dates…

Please help me welcome our new staff members and campus partners: Ashley Ramirez, Sonja Morgan, Dejan Ann Kahilina’i Perez and faculty member Ever Jones. Alongside our director, Nicole Jordan, and our graduate student specialist, Kris Hall, they will mentor our student staff and lead work in culturally-sustaining programming, student retention, community outreach, and administration. Join us for a “Meet and Greet” in the CEI Community Kitchen on Monday, November 24, 1 – 2 p.m.

The campus climate committee is preparing to implement a response to the survey results, which will be released winter quarter 2026. For the present, we are hosting a panel discussion to begin a meaningful conversation. Join us if you can for “From Conflict to Connection: Building a Culture of Engagement” on Wednesday, November 19, 3 – 5 p.m. in Milgard 110.

Like last year, you can participate in an ongoing conversation with peers about how to create more inclusive spaces as we adjust to a changing landscape in higher education. OEI is hosting monthly Communities of Practice dedicated to topical conversations for staff and faculty beginning in January.

Finally, we will return to a newsletter at the beginning of each quarter to share a calendar of upcoming events and to spotlight how you are making a difference with inclusive initiatives in a new feature called “Practicing our Best.” Our recognition of your impact will culminate in an annual award at our ARISE celebration.

On behalf of the CEI team and the Office of Equity and Inclusion, thank you for your continued support, generous collaborations and deep commitment to all of our students. Stay tuned for more relevant programming dedicated to advancing the mission-critical work of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at UW Tacoma.