UMass Boston

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Diversity & Inclusion

Welcome to the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Our True Beacon: Purposeful Learning with Diverse Minds and Hearts

The University of Massachusetts, Boston is committed to the principles of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in all our endeavors - scholarly, pedagogic, and translational. We foster an inclusive campus community and celebrate our diverse identities: cultural, socio-economic, linguistic, racial, ethnic, religious, political, sexual and gender identity and orientation. Identities – in their extraordinary intersectional vibrancies – that are assets to our collective pursuits to nurture discovery of logic (truth/science), ethics (justice/goodness), and aesthetics (beauty).  Purposeful learning with diverse minds and hearts strengthens us all. It is our true Beacon. 

– Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, Chancellor

ODEI Newsletter

Learn what's happening on and around campus in ODEI's newsletter! Email diversity@umb.edu to join our mailing list and receive the newsletter in your email each month.

ODEI Mission

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion actively supports and advances the university’s values of diversity and inclusion, engagement, transformation and cultural development. ODEI acts as an advocate, resource broker, educator and dialogue facilitator to ensure that all members of the campus community are included, respected and valued in all spaces.

ODEI Vision

UMass Boston’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion aspires to create a campus climate that affirms diverse identities and experiences, fosters value and respect of all community members, and celebrates differences. 

Official Forms & Policies

The University of Massachusetts Boston is part of the University of Massachusetts system. As such, the campus is generally governed by a set of policies and standards that are adopted by the University Board of Trustees.

Training and Development

Inclusive Excellence Workshop Series

We have developed a four-hour interactive training, offered via Zoom during remote operations, introducing concepts and practices that will advance a climate of inclusion at UMass Boston. The workshop, intended to support faculty, staff, and graduate assistants in their roles on campus, focuses on Non-Binary Identities and Pronoun Use, Micro-Aggression Basics, and Implicit Bias. The purpose of these trainings is to establish a shared knowledge base and language among UMass Boston employees that will be a part of the university's efforts to become an antiracist and inclusive institution.

In addition to these scheduled community-wide workshops, we can work with your campus department or organization to create a tailored diversity-related training session for your group. To schedule your group for Inclusive Excellence or to discuss other training opportunities, please contact the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at dIversity@umb.edu.

Any person requiring disabilities related accommodation in order to fully participate in these trainings contact ADA & Accommodations

At UMB we believe in fostering an inclusive campus community by embracing all expressions of diverse identities.  To support these efforts, Students can now share their Pronouns voluntarily and securely in WISER. These training slides are meant to provide guidance on policies and practices for Instructors and Staff on the use of Pronouns. ODEI can come to your department to deliver an in-person training experience, or a virtual one if that is preferred.  Please email diversity@umb.edu for more information.

Download training slides for:

Contact Us

Georgianna Meléndez
Assistant Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Phone: 617.287.487
Georgianna.Melendez@umb.edu