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Inclusive Excellence

Georgia Southern University is a special place and we strive to create a climate where everyone feels they belong and where every student sees a clear path to success in front of them.

In a world growing more diverse every year, prospective students, faculty, staff, donors and partners are looking for organizational commitments to Inclusive Excellence. At Georgia Southern, Inclusive Excellence is an important element in recruiting top talent, attracting students and retaining employees.

These efforts are the central pillar of our strategic plan, and we call this on-going, collaborative process “Inclusive Excellence.” At Georgia Southern, Inclusive Excellence is not the responsibility of one person or one office – it’s a value that must permeate every level of our organization and every corner of our campuses. 

Georgia Southern University’s Inclusive Excellence Statement

Inclusive Excellence is a strategic pillar and a core value at Georgia Southern University. We recognize that our success as an institution of higher learning depends on our ability to embrace, value, and appreciate the diversity of students, staff, faculty, administrators, and alumni across our campuses.  Inclusive excellence is continuous and comprehensive; intentional and dynamic; transformational and innovative and is embedded in all aspects of our culture and actions. Inclusive excellence speaks to sustaining a campus climate that honors, respects, and is inclusive of all elements of diversity that make each of us unique: culture, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, age, (dis)ability, creed, religious or spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, class, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political philosophy, etc. We uphold that all of our individual differences enrich our university. Together, we are Georgia Southern – committed to growing ourselves to grow others.

Welcome from the Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence

Welcome to the Office of Inclusive Excellence website! We hope that you not only explore the site, but that you interact with us in person.

The Office of Inclusive Excellence strives for transparency and to create an institutional culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion are ingrained in the very fabric of everything we do in order to achieve Inclusive Excellence. The responsibility to cultivate this environment belongs to every member of our learning community.

By working with the campus community, the Office of Inclusive Excellence seeks to develop a climate that empowers all members- one that fosters collaboration and initiates practices and policies that affect positive institutional change. With renewed energy and strategic focus, Georgia Southern University students, faculty, and staff can serve as a model for infusing diversity, equity, and inclusion into areas as varied as student success, research, pipeline programming, recruitment, retention, employment practices, and training- all while contributing to our larger society, so that we may each be global citizens.

For new students, faculty, staff, and community members- we look forward to getting to know you, whether it’s by engaging in the process of developing our institutional equity plan, via new collaborative partnerships, by participating in our education and training sessions, through committee service, engaging in pipeline programs, or simply by enjoying our events. For returning Georgia Southern University community members, we are excited to reconnect with you as we continue to enhance our collective Inclusive Excellence efforts.  

The work ahead of us must be authentic and intentional in order to successfully foster and maintain a learning and working environment where we all feel a sense of belonging- regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, country of origin, religion, veteran status, or any group with which you identify. If we continue to work in collaboration via respectful dialogue, active listening, and continual learning- together, we will achieve the transformative success in our campus culture we desire.

Please feel free to reach out to us and engage in the programs, services, and activities provided by our Office.  

I invite you to join us on this journey, and I welcome your feedback and suggestions as we engage in this exciting work.

Yours in Service,

Dr. TaJuan R. Wilson
Associate Vice President, Inclusive Excellence and Chief Diversity Officer