Celebrate our Diversity!

HR Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion


The HR Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee was established in May 2020, and in partnership with UVA's Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and the Office for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (EOCR), promotes awareness of and respect for diversity among UVA staff and faculty; advocates for inclusion and inclusive practices and policies; and ensures equity in human resources programs and processes. Current DEI committee chairs are Brian Ford and Kimberlyn McDonald, Senior HR Business Partners. John Kosky, VP & CHRO is the HR DEI Executive Sponsor.

President Jim Ryan on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In President Ryan's UVA Today article about DEI, he asserted that "Colleges should continue to promote the core elements of DEI, as these efforts are crucial to ensuring opportunity and access, attracting and retaining the most talented people, creating a vibrant campus culture, and promoting a richer and more robust exchange of ideas." He notes that critics fall into two camps about DEI: those who embrace the concept but who are concerned about overreach, and those "who would like to see DEI disappear altogether." His article looks for common ground among the camps.

He goes on to define diversity as "not just race, ethnicity, and gender, but a wide range of other factors and characteristics, including geography, socioeconomic status, first-generation status, disability status, religion, age, sexual orientation, viewpoint, ideology, and special talents" and equity as "an effort to ensure equal opportunity, not equal results." He defines inclusion as "an effort to make everyone feel like they belong and are full and welcome members of the community."

He concludes, saying, "To create a community that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive, those in leadership positions have to take actions that actually further those goals ā€“ through their admissions processes; their hiring and retention practices; and in the myriad decisions they make about rooming policies, the food to serve, the events to celebrate, the spaces to create for students, and who in their community they choose to honor." 

Read the full DEI article.

Pronoun Option Added to Microsoft 365 Profile Cards (October 2024)

We are excited to announce that ITS has enabled the option to add pronouns to your Microsoft 365 profile cards. This feature allows us to foster a more inclusive and respectful environment. Pronouns on your profile are visible to people at your work or school, including guests. It will also be reflected in Copilot generated transcripts.
 
To add pronouns to your profile, please follow the directions provided by Microsoft Support at Pronouns on your profile in Microsoft 365 - Microsoft Support.

DEI Events That May Interest You

Friday, Dec. 13, 7-9 p.m. | Community Connection Forum: A Conversation with Monacan Nation's chief Kenneth Branham

Please join us for a rare opportunity to become more familiar with one of Central-Virginiaā€™s most intrepid Indigenous communities.

qr codeThursday, Dec. 19, 12:00 noon | Courageous Conversations: Microaggressions w/Dr. Greg Townsend

Join the SOM Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the UVA health Office of Diversity and Community Engagement for this in-person discussion series that engages in deep dialogue about topics that are complex and sensitive. Registration required. MR5-2005. Lunch will be provided.

Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, 6:00 p.m. | Community MLK Celebration Keynote Event

Location: Paramount Theater | Register for this free event

Michele Norris, MSNBC Senior Contributing Editor, former Washington Post columnist, former NPR All Things Considered host, and Peabody Award-winner will deliver the 2025 Community MLK Celebration keynote address. An award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most recognized voices in radio, Michele Norris engages audiences in candid discussion about current events, social issues, and bridging the divide in America.

An on-stage discussion with Melody Barnes, executive director of UVAā€™s Karsh Institute of Democracy, will follow. This event is free and open to the public. 


HR DEI Committee Listen & Learn Session Recordings

The HR DEI Committee sponsors occasional Lunch & Learn sessions for HR staff and now, you too, can view recordings of these sessions and leave with a better understanding of your DEI IQ, hear discussions about diversity, the path to leadership, trials, triumphs, and a broader discussion on gender in America. Additional sessions will be posted as they are recorded and become available.

DEI Listen & Learn Sessions:

LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Gary Nimax, Chair of LGBTQ+ Committee at UVA

Women in Sports: The Unfair Advantage, Bonnie Hagerman (Additional reading below)

The concept of "just transition" in Estonia, Ivan Sergejev, Architect

The Iran Revolution, Dr. Maryam Zehtabi

Black History Month Panel

Women's History Month Panel

Hispanic Heritage Month

Throughout my career in human resources in higher education, I remain committed to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion as a fundamental part of our mission and will continue to take deliberate action to ensure DEI principles are at the foundation of how we approach our work. Without clear strategies in DEI, most organizations struggle with making substantial progress on DEI outcomes and create lasting and measurable change. John Kosky, Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer Full position statement

Resources

Explore our list of DEI resources. While not a comprehensive list, you will find training opportunities, information on reporting an incident or barrier, filing a complaint, a link to the office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights, and a glossary of terms. Interested in an event, conference, lecture or seminar? Search the UVA Events Calendar to learn what is scheduled throughout the year.

  • Education and Training

    If you have experience facilitating DEI-related conversations or educating about related knowledge and skills, take a look at UVA HRā€™s Education and Training page to complete the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Facilitator/Educator Database informational form and to learn more about their course bundles, programs, team workshops, LinkedIn Learning, and more!

    Education and Training
  • Connecting to Our Community

    Discover Black Cville website - Discover Black culture right here in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Black residents are an integral part of what makes the region a wonderful place to live, visit and explore.

  • UVA's Office for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (EOCR) Reporting Options

    The University encourages every member of our community to promptly report any instance of abuse or mistreatment, bias, discrimination, harassment, etc. or barriers to access for individuals with disabilities. See below for several online reporting options (please note that these are NetBadge protected):

    UVA EOCR website
  • Inclusive Excellence

    UVA is implementing the strategic Inclusive Excellence (IE) framework to synergize and support our collective diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts. The collaborative IE model for organizational change has been a national movement in postsecondary education since 2005 and calls for higher education to address diversity, inclusion, and equity as critical to achieving excellence.

    The Inclusive Excellence Plan for UVA Human Resources focuses on applying the Inclusive Excellence framework and making substantive change within the HR team before sharing and applying what is learned to benefit the institution as a whole. HR is in a unique and critical position to not only increase diversity and inclusion within our team, but also to lead the way from an operations standpoint with this critical work. Because HR impacts every employee at UVA, it is incumbent upon HR to play a foundational and key role in systemic change at the University. The research on DEI is clear; a diverse workforce can improve innovation, attract and retain talent, increase productivity, and better customer service.

    Inclusive Excellence website
  • Office for DEI Learning Resources

    The Universityā€™s Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion compiled information about a wide range of diversity, equity, inclusion, civil rights, and anti-racism learning resources, recommended by members of the UVA community. While not an exhaustive list, it provides a variety of ways to learn about histories, ideas, strategies, and skills.

    Learning Resources
  • UVAĀ Events Calendar

    The University hosts an array of conferences, symposia, and special events relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, civil rights, and anti-racism. Check the UVA Calendar often to learn about additional opportunities throughout the year.

    UVA Events Calendar
  • Glossary

    Our words can be used to engage, connect, and empower each other. They can also be used to divide us. Because of this, it is important to promote an understanding of commonly used terms for authentic conversations about race and equality.

    See below for definitions of commonly used terms:

    AGEISM

    Discrimination against individuals because of their age, often based on stereotypes.

    ANTI-RACISM

    Actively opposing discrimination based on race by advocating for changes in political, economic, and social life. Today anti-racism is most closely associated with Ibram X. Kendi. His 2019 book, "How to Be an Antiracist," discusses the concepts of racism and his proposals for anti-racist individual actions and systemic changes.

    BELONGING

    A sense of feeling secure and supported by a group where one can be their authentic self.

    BIAS

    Showing preference or favor either positively or negatively for a person, group, or community.

    BIPOC

    An acronym for black, indigenous and people of color. 

    CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE (CQ)

    The ability to relate and work effectively across cultures. 

    DISABILITY

    As defined by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), a disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

    DIVERSITY

    Differences that occur among individuals, including but not limited to race, gender, ethnicity, identity, marital status, and age, etc.

    EQUITY

    Fair treatment in access, opportunity, and advancement for all individuals.

    INCLUSION

    The state of being valued, respected, and supported within a group and having the opportunity to contribute and fully participate.

    INSTITUTIONAL RACISM (SYSTEMIC RACISM)

    A form of racism embedded in laws and regulations that create different outcomes for different racial groups, often leading to discrimination in the criminal justice system, health care, housing, education, etc.

    MICROAGGRESSIONS

    Verbal or nonverbal behaviors such as snubs or slights, whether intentional or unintentional, that occur in everyday interactions and are targeted to a specific group.

    PRIVILEGE

    An advantage, right or immunity enjoyed by some individuals or groups but not by all.

     

    For a more robust list of terms and additional resources, please visit the following:

  • VIRGINIA Magazine article: Queer History

Zoom Backgrounds

Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by downloading a Zoom background and using it during your meetings! Right-click on each link to 'Save As' as an image to your laptop or device

Andes Mountain Landscape

Andes mountains zoom background

Faces of Various Skin Colors

Faces zoom background

Multi-Color Hands Reaching Up

Multi-Color Hands zoom background

Stripes of Various Skin Colors

Stripes zoom background

UVA Trumpeter John D-Earth

John D'Earth zoom background

LGBTQ+ Pride Month

LGBTQ+ Zoom background