Nine Pillars of Diversity Lecture Series kicks off Feb. 25

The University of Maine President’s Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will kick off the Nine Pillars of Diversity Lecture Series at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 with a virtual presentation, “A Legacy of Advocacy: A Reflection on the History of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Maine.” 

JoAnn Fritsche, the first director of Equal Opportunity and Women’s Development at UMaine, will trace the evolution of equal opportunity initiatives on campus to provide context for understanding and evaluating previous and current equity initiatives.  

UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy established the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in 2020 to guide institutional efforts to create a culture of inclusive excellence. The 32-member council is charged with identifying barriers and structural impediments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); evaluating strategic planning documents to sustain a focus on DEI; gathering and analyzing data to guide development of relevant DEI initiatives; and suggesting resource allocation and alignment to establish a culture with inclusion at its core.  

Participants can join the Feb. 25 lecture on Zoom. View the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion list of recommended action items and find more information about the council online

The event is presented with generous support from the Alton ’38 and Adelaide Hamm Campus Activity Fund.