Faculty and staff from across campus gathered in the Magnolia Ballroom at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel on Sept. 19 for the university’s fall 2023 Multicultural Faculty and Staff Reception.
The event offered a space for faculty, staff and administrators to get to know one another and celebrate the start of the academic year. Attendees were greeted by Michelle Cook, senior vice provost for diversity and inclusion and strategic university initiatives, and UGA President Jere W. Morehead.
“We gather here not only to celebrate the rich tapestry of diversity within our university community, but also to affirm our unwavering commitment to making UGA a place that is inclusive and welcoming for all,” Cook said. “My hope is that you will experience the strong sense of community that underpins everything that we do in providing a world-class education for our students.”
UGA President Jere W. Morehead speaks at the 2023 Multicultural Faculty and Staff Reception. (Photo by Chamberlain Smith/UGA)
Morehead mentioned several institutional initiatives supporting work in diversity, including the ALL Georgia Program and the Georgia Possible Program. Additionally, he referenced Lead@3, a seminar series for women in the university community; a partnership between the College of Pharmacy and Fort Valley State University to build the pipeline of PharmD students; and the Georgia Ready Summer Institute for high-achieving students from underserved and underrepresented high schools in the state.
“These are just a few examples of the many things that are going on across this campus we can take pride in and show as examples of what we want to accomplish as an institution,” Morehead said. “I want to thank each of you for being part of that mission.”