DEI Office
LR fosters an inclusive and welcoming environment for all systemically underrepresented student populations at the university.
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), along with the entire Lenoir-Rhyne community, seeks to ensure LR is a place where all of our students, faculty and staff feel welcome. The DEI office works closely with administration, faculty, and staff to be inclusive in providing excellent educational and work experience.
We value everyone regardless of culture, religion, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. We are committed to finding strength in our differences and producing leaders who embrace and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. This work includes developing policies, procedures and practices that advance our goal of inclusion.
We encourage you to learn more about our work, including our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, Inclusion Champions, and our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commitment Plan.
For more information, please contact the Diversity, Equity,and Inclusion (DEI) office.
Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), along with the entire Lenoir-Rhyne community, seeks to ensure LR is a place where all of our students, faculty and staff feel welcome. The DEI office works closely with administration, faculty and staff to be inclusive, in providing an excellent educational and work experience.
We value everyone regardless of culture, religion, gender, race or socioeconomic status. We are committed to finding strength in our differences and producing leaders who embrace and advance diversity, equity and inclusion. This work includes developing policies, procedures and practices that advance our goal of inclusion.
We encourage you to learn more about our work, including our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council and our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commitment Plan.
For more information, please contact the DEI office.
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Letter from President Whitt
Lenoir-Rhyne University values diversity and strives to create a welcoming community that is reflective of the world around us, one in which all individuals are respected and included. This commitment comes from our core — our Lutheran faith tradition. It is how we manifest our Lutheran principles across disciplines, how we create an inclusive culture and supportive spaces on campus that encourage meaningful interaction and engage, and how we equip students to be future leaders.
Over the last decade, the University has strived to prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of campus life. We are working diligently to evolve into a more inclusive and equitable campus that is committed to civic and social responsibility. In fact, we have made DEI efforts a key part of our strategic plan, Pivoting to a New Level of Excellence.
We aim to foster an environment in which faculty, staff and students from diverse backgrounds have support networks that value their unique experiences, perspectives and opinions and have opportunities for people with differing perspectives to respectfully engage in discourse. Those qualities are not only important for those in our community, but they are critical for our students who leave our campus and work, live and lead in an increasingly interconnected world.
Dr. Fred Whitt
President -
Initiatives, Events & Speakers
Our goal is to increase student conversation and engagement and create a culture where every student is represented and empowered to use their voice, which improves the overall experience at Lenoir-Rhyne for all students. Visit Multicultural Affairs for additional celebrations and programs.
- Held Paint & Sing event at LR for students to express creativity.
- Established the Student-Athlete DEI Council
- Creation of Student Bear Spotlight and Bear Call, where an LR student is featured
- Participated in external leadership conferences: Women’s Roundtable and the Men of Color National Summit, both at Clemson University.
- Started Office of Multicultural Affairs, Student Ambassadors program
- Conversation Hour at LR
Speakers
- Michael Eric Dyson (Sept. 2022)
- Natalie Holder, Chief Diversity Officer, Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Action (IDEA), U.S. Capital Police (SOURCE event, April 2022)
- Corie Pauling, TIAA, Sr. Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Corporate Social Responsibility (Nov. 2021)
- David R. Katz III, Keynote for Growth Mindset at LR (Nov. 2021)
LR supported me the most when nobody was there... during school breaks when I could not go to my home. I’m thankful to God and LR community for helping me become the person I inspire to be.
News & Events
Alongside leaders making a difference in diversity, equity and inclusion all over the nation, Avery Staley received an award for Lifetime Achievement in DEI.
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The Lenoir-Rhyne will sponsor and host the university’s second annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Prayer Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 15.
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