Our people

The Division of Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse exemplifies Inclusive Excellence by:

• creating a welcoming environment for all students, staff, and faculty;
• expanding resources and programming that increase student success;
• engaging with and learning from diverse perspectives through civil discourse, and
• maximizing opportunities for all students, staff, and faculty to bring their full selves into the campus community.

The D&I Division is committed to the values of equity, advocacy, personal growth, and community and belonging.  We  articulate these values in personal interactions as well as classroom and community experiences. We believe these values enrich our campus community and prepare our students to lead in a global environment.

We are aware that inclusive excellence work is a journey and involves everyone from the campus community.  Therefore, the D&I Division invites everyone to join us in making inclusive excellence values part of the fabric of our institution.

Greetings from the Division of Student Affairs,

As the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, I am excited that at UWL our commitment to diversity has led us to the development of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion.  Diversity and inclusion is essential because it allows students from various backgrounds to discover different ways of looking at and experiencing the world around them.  By embracing diversity and inclusion, an environment is created that allows for the exchange of ideas and sharing of perspectives.  Additionally, a diverse and inclusive environment allows for friendships and relationships to develop that will, in turn, enhance our students' university experience.

An understanding of diversity, in all forms, is crucial in preparing our future leaders. Diversity and inclusion are integral to all facets of Student Affairs and serve as the impetus that drives the division and departmental goals and objectives.  As a result, we, at the Division of Student Affairs, continue to support initiatives and expand programs that will support student success and personal growth.

What does it mean to provide leadership to Academic Affairs in the area of diversity? For me, it means a commitment to continually evolving the campus by listening and working across the units of student and academic affairs. 

At UWL, Inclusive Excellence reflects involvement from students, staff, and faculty from across the campus – each of whom brings perspectives on the myriad of ways that the university is experienced by the individuals who create the campus climate.  Leadership on diversity also means that we listen acutely to those whose professional and personal experiences interface closely with individuals who come from historically disadvantaged backgrounds.  Unique to academic affairs is a focus on the student learning aspects of diversity including a host of interrelated areas such as curricular infusion, barriers to student success, promotion of universal design for optimal student learning, and awareness of the role of instructors in creating inclusive environments that promote academic equity and success. 

Join me in actively exploring the ways in which our own experiences inform our work and in challenging ourselves to be genuine citizens of the 21st century.