diversity and unity
At MVNU, we believe that embracing and celebrating diversity brings us all closer together.
Our campus community benefits from the diversity of students, staff, and faculty. We are a community of individuals who seek to learn from, and about, one another. Diversity is expressed through racial, ethnic, age, ability, geographic, gender, cultural, and socioeconomic differences among the campus community.
We take our responsibility to offer educational and professional opportunities equitably to all qualified persons seriously. Through our curriculum, programs, and services, we seek to provide understanding and supportive interaction among diverse population groups, respecting individuals’ personal values and ideals.
The Office of Intercultural Life serves AIM students (American students of color, International students, and Missionary kids) through a variety of programs and events, including:
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Black Student Union
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Diversity Leadership Scholars and Mentoring Program
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Language Learning Clubs
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United in Culture
Upcoming Events
TBA
Additionally, the Office of Intercultural Life supports and celebrates a variety of student organizations and campus events, including:
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Alliance for Black Student Leadership
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African Diaspora History Month
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Festival Latino Workshop
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International Fashion Show
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Martin Luther King Celebration Breakfast
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Soul Festival
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Women's History Month
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The Dwelling Multicultural Resource Room
Mount Vernon Nazarene University remains focused in its efforts on the work that must be done in diversity, equity and inclusion for university sustainability, growth, and support for minority groups. To stay faithful and focused on this, President Spaulding called for the formulation of the Presidential Task Force Diversity and Inclusion to analyze the current efforts in these areas.
The task force has monthly scheduled meetings for strategic planning. The task force will support the Mount Vernon Nazarene University 2023 strategic initiatives on diversity and inclusion by developing a university-wide strategic plan to deliver on the 2023 strategic initiatives' desired outcomes. The timeframe for setting the strategic plan is 12-18 months, with implementation to follow.
Members of the committee are as follow:
- Tavaris Taylor - Chair, Director of Intercultural Life
- Dr. Hank W Spaulding, III - Assistant Campus Pastor
- Dr. Stephen P Metcalfe- Professor of Education
- Prof. Debra J Garee - Assistant Professor of Nursing
- Matthew C McPherson - Assistant Director of Recruitment
- Dr. Thad Hicks - Professor of Emergency Management & Criminal Justice
- Margaret Allotey-Pappoe- Associate Professor of Graphic Design
- Dr. Jean Ollis - Assistant Professor of Social Work
- D'Lasia N Bass - SGA Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
- Gerardo Molina- International Student Representative
C.O.R.E. Values
- Curiosity & Courage: Personal responsibility for getting to know one another and to be understood.
- Openness & Otherness: Holding multiple perspectives simultaneously and valuing them all.
- Respect & Reciprocity: Recognition of personal diversity and the fact that all peoples have equal value and merit.
- Equity & Empathy: Dispersion of power and equality of opportunity.
Tavaris Taylor, Assistant Vice President for Intercultural Engagement
Jenesis (Torralba) Clark, '16“This environment continually pushes and helps me grow."