A Brief History of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion (formerly known as the Office of Diversity of Equity - ODE) traces its origins to the President's Commission on Campus Climate and Life. That Commission, chaired by Professor Dalton Miller-Jones, was charged with investigating "ways to significantly improve the student learning experiences at Portland State University . . . ." The Commission quickly decided that the quality of the student experience could "not be disassociated" with the workplace environment for faculty and staff. In considering Portland State’s campus climate, therefore, the Commission considered what the Portland State experience was for students, faculty, and staff alike.
The Commission's investigations were exhaustive.
Between January 1998 and September 1998, the Commission convened at least two hours each week. The Commission reviewed existing reports and documents, listened to constituencies from across campus discuss their programs, concerns, interests, and future directions, and reflected on what changes would most benefit the quality of campus life at PSU and the student learning experiences. Four open forums were held to allow individuals from across the campus to express concerns about campus life. The Commission established a home page to disseminate and collect additional information . . .
Following receipt of the Commission’s report in 1999, then-President Daniel O. Bernstine established the President’s Diversity Initiative and assigned Professor Devorah Lieberman, then Director of the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), the responsibility for advancing the Diversity Initiative (as well as presidential initiatives on Assessment, Student Advising, and Internationalization). Professor Lieberman established the Diversity Action Council, which developed a Diversity Action Plan and initiated a number of Diversity Initiative programs that still exist today. The CAE incubated the presidential initiatives well, and all four have led to permanent institutional changes. Both former President Bernstine and former Interim President Michael F. Reardon moved forward the institutionalization of the Diversity Initiative. Today, the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity fulfills many of the functions of a Chief Diversity Officer, with the Diversity Action Council playing a strong invaluable advisory role to the Office of Diversity and Equity.
Today, under the leadership of President Wim Wiewel, diversity work at Portland State continues to be strengthened and expanded in scope. The 2009-2010 goals of the Office of Diversity and Equity include supporting President Wiewel's Task Force on Latino/a Student Success, completing the posting of all documents that have been developed and collected for the DAPS (Diversity Assessment at Portland State) website; expanding the reach of our campus diversity educational and workshop programs; and convening a group of campus diversity leaders to explore synergies and trade information. To browse our programs and services, please return to our homepage.
Diversity-related sections of the Commission's report