DEI Statement

With a sense of personal and collective responsibility, we are committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce through the creation of an inclusive office environment and hiring practices; to enhancing the lives of all members of the UMAF community through efforts that inform, involve, and invest across the full spectrum of individual identity and lived experience; and to ensuring that all employees and constituents are treated equitably by providing the resources they need to succeed.

Embracing diversity (i.e., the presence of people from a wide range of identities, intersectionalities, and backgrounds who bring unique perspectives and life experiences) serves to strengthen our work and is the only way to truly advance our mission and that of the university. We recognize that the benefits of a diverse team are fully realized when people of all races, gender identities, ages, ethnicities, cultural heritages and nationalities, educational backgrounds, religious and political beliefs, sexual orientations, abilities, and socioeconomic and veteran status are valued, respected, and included at every level, and just as importantly, invited to the decision-making table. We also see it as imperative that all opinions, values, and experiences are incorporated into our work culture so that everyone feels they are a part of our collective “we.” 

As the bridge between the university and its broader, global community, it is our responsibility to place these values at the cornerstone of all we do. 

Our efforts are a part of UMass Amherst’s larger diversity-, equity-, and inclusion-focused strategy to create a vibrant learning and working environment for all and build a better, more just world.