Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs renamed Office of Inclusion and Diversity

Article body

Beginning June 7, the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, or ODMA, will be known as the Office of Inclusion and Diversity.

The decision to rename the unit coincides with the findings of the recent Campus Climate Study, which recommends that the university strengthen its programs to promote inclusion, equity and diversity. The change also supports the office's revised mission statement, to serve as a vital resource for building unity, equity and inclusion in the Auburn University community.

"Renaming ODMA as the Office of Inclusion and Diversity more accurately reflects the evolving mission of the unit by clarifying its services, responsibilities and influence among the campus community," said Timothy Boosinger, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "The office will transition to the new name immediately as we launch a national search for an associate provost and vice president for inclusion and diversity."

The Office of Inclusion and Diversity will continue to administer diversity initiatives and on-campus programs including the Multicultural Center, the Educational Resource Center, Women's Initiatives, Community Initiatives and Institutional Diversity Initiatives. The unit currently employs 17 full- and part-time staff members and is located in M. White Smith Hall.

"The new name reflects Auburn's reestablished commitment to an institutional culture that proactively integrates diverse perspectives of the campus community into its mission, systems and business practices," said Adeola Fayemi, manager, diversity and inclusion.

The renaming also coincides with best practices at peer institutions, many of which have transitioned to units that reflect institutional values of inclusion and diversity.

Office contact information for the unit remains the same; the phone number is 334-844-4394 and the email is diversity@auburn.edu.

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.