While the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion have long resonated on this campus, across the nation and the world, I believe it is important to remember that they also manifest in each of us on an intensely personal level. I believe that we all have opportunity to gain insight from both inspiring and devastating events in history, as well as to apply new understanding to our own life experiences.
I consider myself extremely fortunate to be the daughter of Rabbi Richard G. Hirsch, who met and worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on many occasions. Among these was the famous March on Washington in 1963 and the march in Selma, Alabama.
From an early age, I was exposed to virtues of human solidarity – the very essence of the world that Dr. King so eloquently described as his dream. I learned the redemptive values of fairness, respect, goodwill, inclusion, generosity and many others. My parents also instilled in me an inclination to see commonalities between us as easily as differences, as well as the benefit of embracing both.
I have been heartened to learn of this community’s very similar and steadfast commitment to creating a friendly and inviting environment for all through diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. I share the conviction that we will find our greatest success through the contributions that each one of us makes, and I earnestly anticipate opportunities to begin making my own.
One of the core components of our mission statement is our focus on community. Our service and engagement in the community offers unique learning opportunities for students by bringing together people with a wide array of experiences, perspectives and ideas. The quality of and access to the services we offer are critical to our mission, and we are committed to a welcoming a diverse student body and workforce that thrive in equitable and inclusive environments in all areas of the University.
I hope that you will find the information available on this site helpful and inspiring. I hope you, too, are inclined to share your contributions. I believe that if we are to one day fully realize the kind of society that Dr. King envisioned, none of us can be content in allowing his dream to live in isolation. We must embrace our own dreams and allow them to compel us with the same passion that drove Dr. King to accomplish all that he did.
Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, M.D.
President