Goals and Objectives
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion provides leadership for the University to build on its core principles of inclusiveness in learning environments, programs, workforce and strategic partnerships.
To that purpose, the Division seeks to do the following:
- Recruit, retain and graduate more diverse students.
- Recruit, retain and promote more diverse faculty and staff.
- Build a more inclusive and welcoming campus environment.
- Develop a more culturally competent campus community.
In affirming UA’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, the Division will establish a holistic and integrated vision that fosters a welcoming and supportive environment for students, faculty, staff, visitors and the community at large—regardless of cultural differences, beliefs, values, ethnicity, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, gender identity, or religion.
Path Forward Diversity Report
The Path Forward Diversity Report, released in 2020, and its companion piece, Path Forward Progress Update released in 2021, outline how the University can achieve the third goal of UA’s Strategic Plan.
Leadership
Dr. G. Christine Taylor
Dr. G. Christine Taylor is vice president and associate provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. With nearly 30 years of experience, Dr. Taylor joined The University of Alabama in August 2017.
Since then, Dr. Taylor has stressed the importance of intentionality in improving student diversity at The University of Alabama. She spearheaded the 2020 Path Forward Plan, with 75 strategies outlined for recruiting, retaining and graduating more diverse students, faculty and staff, and creating a more welcoming campus community. While work continues, there has been much progress. In 2020, the professionally staffed Intercultural Diversity Center moved to a central location in The University of Alabama Student Center, serving as a hub for cultural learning, teaching and sharing. In 2021, the Safe Zone Resource Center, promoting equity and inclusion for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, hired its first director. And in Fall 2021, UA welcomed its largest and most diverse freshman class, with record-high percentages of underrepresented students.
Prior to coming to UA, Dr. Taylor served as vice provost for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer for nearly six years at Purdue University, where she led and provided strategic direction for the Division of Diversity and Inclusion. During that time, she implemented more than 35 programs to support increasing enrollment, retention and recruitment of underrepresented minority students, faculty and staff. She also provided critical leadership in the development of a more inclusive campus environment with an emphasis on the development of cultural competencies for all faculty, staff and students.
Before working at Purdue University, Dr. Taylor served as the associate vice president for institutional diversity at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. In 2004, she joined Ohio University as the interim assistant to the president for diversity and was promoted to assistant to the president in 2005.
Dr. Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Middle Tennessee State University in 1979. She earned her master’s degree and doctorate from Ohio University in 1989 and 1997, respectively.