Carnegie Mellon University

Dear Members of the Carnegie Mellon University Community,

As you have heard many times from university leadership, and will continue to hear, diversity and inclusion are central to the mission of Carnegie Mellon University. A diverse and inclusive community is the foundation for excellence in learning, research, creativity and human development. We stand together in our commitment to these principles.

Today, we are delighted to announce a new milestone in living out this commitment: the opening of the Student Center for Diversity and Inclusion. This interdivisional, co-located center will provide a new home for functions and resources in support of the student experience, enhancing student access, student success, campus climate and intergroup dialogue. The center, located in the lower level of the Cohon Center at the heart of campus, will be led in its inaugural year by co-directors Jen Gilbride-Brown and Holly Hippensteel, working with core staff from CMARC, Graduate Education and Student Affairs.

The center’s Grand Opening Celebration will be held during Family Weekend (October 13-15). The center will host two open houses on August 30 and September 5 from 4-5 p.m. Finally, a Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion Network Gathering for interested faculty and staff will take place on Thursday, September 7 from 4-5 p.m.

We want to thank the many graduate and undergraduate students, faculty and staff who helped identify this need and bring this plan to fruition. We also want to recognize the broader campus community for calling out diversity and inclusion as priorities in the university’s strategic plan. Finally, we are grateful to those who advanced this mission over many years, including advocates in CMARC (formerly CMAP), Student Affairs, faculty champions, as well as alumni organizations and student groups.

We encourage you to come visit the center. You may also contact us (csdi@andrew.cmu.edu or 412-268-2150) to talk about this new initiative and ways you can be involved in this exciting and evolving effort. Please join us as we together cultivate an inclusive and welcoming CMU community. 

Sincerely,                                                                                            

Laurie Weingart, Interim Provost
Gina Casalegno, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students