A Message from Michelle Cook
There is often a continuity and familiarity to the academic year in higher education. Year after year, colleges and universities plan for classes, housing, transportation, athletics, commencement and all of the many components of the academic calendar. In 2020, so much of this has been disrupted in significant ways. Much of this disruption has been caused by heartbreaking loss and social injustice that has impacted us all. But another product of the disruption has caused many to reflect on what it all means, how we got here and how we should move forward. The drive to move forward in positive and impactful ways has fueled much of our work at the University of Georgia.
The social and racial injustice that was such a critical trigger for the protests and demonstrations that took place around the world earlier this year causes us as an institution to look inwardly and ask, “how can we be better?” There is no simple answer to this question, but it is one that requires every member of our community to step up and engage. One thing that the events of this summer highlighted is that the work of diversity, inclusion and building equitable and just communities is everybody’s job. It cannot be the work only of those deemed to be directly affected, or those whose title and position dictate that they take a leading role. We as a community must live inclusion, equity and justice on a daily basis.
One of the best aspects of this newsletter is that it provides us an opportunity to highlight the efforts of individuals on our campus who are doing amazing things to make us all better. The campus-wide commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in the University receiving the INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award for the seventh consecutive year. While we are very proud of this recognition, we know that we have more work to do. The award serves to energize us in our efforts and commitment to make the University of Georgia a welcoming and inclusive place for all. Our students, faculty and staff must be fully engaged in doing what they can to make the University an inclusive environment. In every corner of our institution, individuals are actively working to make a better UGA.
I would encourage us all to reframe the disturbances that we have experienced this year and place our focus and our energy on the good that we see, the good that we can promote and the good that we can be. There is so much space for us to do good in small and yet significant ways. As we watch large-scale disturbances rock our communities, we can work to stabilize them by countering with positive, community building interactions. While we are isolated in ways that we may never have imagined, we can still have a positive impact on others.
So, let us amplify the message that we all want to hear. We are diverse, we are strong,
we are united, we are committed, we are UGA!
Michelle Cook
Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion and Strategic University Initiatives
