Founded in 1791, the University of Vermont (UVM) is one of the oldest universities in the United States.
Located in Burlington, Vermont, UVM is home to more than 9,000 undergraduates and 1,300 graduate students. UVM has a pronounced focus on building a diverse and globally aware university community.
Vice Provost Annie Stevens leads the Division of Student Affairs, comprised of 176 full-time and 35 part-time staff members across many departments, including Academic Support Programs, the Center for Student Ethics & Standards, the Center for Health & Wellbeing, the Office of Student & Community Relations, and the Department of Student Life, among
When asked about the role of diversity and inclusion in her unit, Stevens shares, “Our focus on diversity and inclusion has made us a better organization in every aspect of our work. …We’ve been able to hire more diverse staff, and retain staff that are committed to social justice work.”
Believing that diverse staff positively impact the effectiveness of the division, she adds, “We have become
more collaborative and inclusive in our programs, policies and decision-making, and our ability to serve all students
has been broadened.”
Reflecting their commitment to diversity, the Division of Student Affairs launched a diversity series as a part
of professional staff development. Workshops and trainings are organized around one major focus: fostering
a community that is multiculturally inclusive, affirming and competent.
The division also supports travel to national conferences and institutes for professional staff, including the
Social Justice Training Institute (SJTI) and the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE).
David Nestor, dean of students at UVM, says, “Promoting diversity and inclusion in our staff accelerates and deepens
our ability as an organization to serve all of our students in the most meaningful ways. If we want every student to be healthy, engaged and successful, promoting diversity and inclusion is essential in helping us achieve these goals.”
Indeed, promoting diversity and inclusion is deeply engrained in the organizational culture of student affairs at
Lacretia Flash, assistant dean for conduct, policy, and climate shares, “Our reputation for being a diverse and
multiculturally competent division comes from more than a decade of strong leadership, a clear vision for inclusiveness and a staff who take active steps to develop their multicultural competency.”
Their steadfast commitment to growing multicultural competence in their staff members is, in part, what makes
University of Vermont’s Division of Student Affairs one of this year’s “30+ Promising Places to Work in Student