Lupita Hernandez from CDI Selected as Graduate Student Employee of the Year
Lupita Hernandez, instructional assistant at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, has been selected as this year’s Graduate Student Employee of the Year through the University Career Services. Among 25 graduate student nominees, the reviewers expressed that they were impressed by her dedication, initiative, and contribution to the university.

Director Varselles Cummings wins Revis A. Cox Memorial Award
Varselles Cummings was awarded the Revis A. Cox Memorial Award at this year’s Association of College Unions International (ACUI) annual conference in Chicago, Illinois. Nominators stated he provides leadership and strategic vision of campus-wide programs and services to address the needs, strengths, and challenges of diverse student populations. This past year, Cummings worked on “A Time to be Heard. A Time to Learn,” two virtual forums on racial justice, one for students and one for faculty and staff, hosted by the campus Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

CDI hosts 2022 MLK Commemorative Celebration
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion is proud to host the 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration in collaboration with multiple University of Houston community members. This celebration is an opportunity for the UH community to celebrate and reflect on the legacy and life of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

CDI Assistant Director Michael Crook named as Interim Co-Director of UH LGBTQ Resource Center
Crook currently serves as assistant director for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, where he not only works closely with the LGBTQ Resource Center, but also leads the center’s assessment, data analysis and reporting while also creating, implementing, and assessing high-level programming for underrepresented populations.

AIMM program to help marginalized males succeed at UH
The Achievement Initiative for Marginalized Males provides its members the opportunity to interact with various groups within the campus as well as helps them create strong ties with the faculty. AIMM currently has five students participating.

CDI hosts 2021 Fall Speaker Series Keynote with artist and activist Favianna Rodriguez
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion recently held its annual Fall Speaker Series featuring keynote speaker Favianna Rodriguez. An American artist and activist based in Oakland, California, Rodriguez is guided by her experiences as a queer woman of color with Afro-Peruvian roots, and her work centers around themes of racial equality, migration, and climate change. She believes that artists are a crucial part in bringing change to society.

#IAMUH Campaign -- Celebrating Diversity at the University of Houston
Over 250 Coogs have shared their #IAMUH stories, spotlighting the diversity of the campus community. #IAMUH is a social media campaign launched in early 2016 to support the Center for Diversity and Inclusion in its efforts to highlight the diverse perspectives and experiences on campus. #IAMUH stories will continue to be shared via the Center’s website, social media, and newsletter.

CDI announces artist Favianna Rodriguez for its 2021 Fall Speaker Series Keynote
CDI announced its 2021 Fall Speaker Series keynote speaker as artist, activist, and cultural organizer Favianna Rodriguez. Rodriguez will be presenting her keynote "Culture is Power" on October 28 at 6:00pm in the Student Center Houston Room.

#IAMUH T-Shirt Swap Collects Donations for Star of Hope
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion held its #IAMUH T-Shirt Swap during UH Weeks of Welcome recently. Community members brought in their old t-shirts to be donated in exchange for an #IAMUH shirt. More than 500 shirts were donated to Houston’s own Star of Hope, a non-profit organization that supports those who are without homes in the Houston community.

Sydnee Garcia named Program Manager
Sydnee Garcia has recently joined the Center for Diversity and Inclusion staff as a program manager. In her role, Garcia will be coordinating workshops including the RISE Diversity Leadership Certificate program, serving as the Center’s marketing and outreach manager, and coordinating special programs such as the Diversity Institute and Fall Speaker Series.

Michael Crook named Assistant Director
Michael Crook has been named the new assistant director for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. In his role, Crook serves as part of the Center’s leadership team, is responsible for the daily operations of the Center and student employees, oversees assessment initiatives, develops and manages academic partnerships, and supports the diversity education programs and initiatives that come from the Center.

Varselles Cummings named Director
Varselles Cummings has been named the new director for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. Cummings has over 11 years of experience serving in various Student Affairs roles and is excited to be part of the University of Houston DSAES Student Life Team.

Culture Connect Week 2019
The last week of February marked the Center for Diversity and Inclusion’s (CDI) annual Culture Connect Week (CCW). Culture Connect Week is the celebration and connection of the various aspects of diversity at the University of Houston through multicultural programs, collaborations, and social events.

Kendall Wright named Program Manager
The Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services is proud to announce that Kendall Wright has joined the Center for Diversity and Inclusion staff as the new Program Manager. Kendall comes to UH with a broad spectrum of Student Affairs experience ranging from fraternity and sorority life, housing and residential education, to equity and inclusion, and Title IX.

Get Hired Program Receives Bernard Pitts Award
The University of Houston was honored Nov. 12th with ACUI’s Bernard Pitts award. The Bernard Pitts award recognizes a Region II institution that has planned, implemented, and evaluated an outstanding program or service that embodies ACUI’s Role of the College Union Statement.

CDI to Host “Big Sonia” Documentary
In support of International Tolerance Day, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) will host the Big Sonia Documentary on Tuesday, November 27th at 6:00 pm in the Student Center South-Theater.

Introducing REACH Diversity Peer Educators
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) launched its new Initiative REACH at the beginning of the Fall semester. The REACH Initiative is CDI’s way to advance cultural awareness on campus through peer education. The Center kicked off this initiative with phase one, REACH Diversity Peer Educators.

Center for Diversity and Inclusion awards twelve students for completing the RISE Diversity Leadership Certificate
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion in partnership with the Center for Student Involvement LeadUH series was proud to award twelve students for completing the RISE Diversity Leadership Certificate at the 2018 Campus Leaders Award Ceremony.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion hosted its annual Diversity Institute
This year’s theme Classism: The Last Socially Accepted Prejudice? prompted participants to think critically about classism and how this invisible identity impacts individuals on both personal and systemic levels. The one-day diversity education experience began with a brunch featuring keynote speaker Dr. Tanya Williams and concluded with Diversity Talks – TED Talk style presentations led by Ellen Whitehead, Doctoral Student at RICE University, and Eureka Gilkey, Site Manager for Project Rowe Houses.

Center for Diversity and Inclusion reflects on Culture Connect Week
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) celebrated various aspects of diversity at the University of Houston by hosting the fourth annual Culture Connect Week celebration. Culture Connect Week is an exciting and educational week full of multicultural programs, collaborations, and social events.

CDI Engages UH Students in Community Arts
On Thursday, February 15th, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion hosted its first Community Cultural Enrichment Program –to provide students the opportunity to enhance one's awareness of self and others outside of the classroom.

University of Houston’s Center for Diversity & Inclusion Hosts the Inside Out Project
The University of Houston’s Center for Diversity & Inclusion is proud to host the Inside Out Project, a global art project that allows individuals to get their portraits taken and make a statement of what they stand for in the world.

Safe Space, Brave Space: How CDI Created an Inclusive Environment to Process and Discuss Recent Events
Many residents of Houston are still recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and numerous natural disasters affecting other neighboring states and countries only to realize that those are not the only concerns our country is facing.

Dance Fusion Night offers salsa, bhangra, afrobeat lessons
Culture Connect Week’s Dance Fusion night brought members of the University of Houston community together to learn cultural and ethnic dances from different parts of the world Thursday.

Center for Diversity and Inclusion Partnered with UH Libraries to host Diversity Day
On Thursday, June 29 the UH Libraries hosted their inaugural Diversity Day in partnership with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI).

The Power of Microagressions with Dr. Derald Wing Sue
Dr. Derald Wing Sue will visit the University of Houston for a conversation on Intent vs Impact: The Power of Microaggressions on Monday, January 30, 2017, at 1:30 pm in the Student Center Bayou City Room.

Center for Diversity and Inclusion Partnered with UH Libraries to host Diversity Day
On Thursday, June 29 the UH Libraries hosted their inaugural Diversity Day in partnership with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI). This day-long experience provided UH Libraries faculty and staff with diversity education workshops aimed at increasing participants’ knowledge around the multiple diversities that exist.

AIMM High Bridges the Gap Between Minority High School Students and UH
On Thursday, May 12, 2016, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) and the Achievement Initiative for Minority Males (AIMM) sponsored their inaugural AIMM High event, welcoming 17 ninth-grade students from Kashmere High School to the University of Houston (UH).

#IAMUH Campaign Spotlights Diversity of Campus Community
A new social media campaign #IAmUH is being launched by the University’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion. All Cougars are invited to share stories, strengths and personal attributes that connect them to UH.

UH DREAMzone Training Promoting Awareness of Undocumented Students’ Challenges, Needs
November 17, 2015 - DREAMzone Training (adapted from the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act) allows members of the Cougar community to engage with undocumented students during an open panel discussion. Conversations will provide insight on the federal, state, and institutional challenges faced by these students.

Citizenship Month
The University of Houston is proud to be supporting the City of Houston Annual Citizenship Month by creating opportunities for members of the UH community to be a part of the active and engaged citizenry of the City of Houston.

CDI to host ‘An Evening with Richard Blanco’
October 12, 2015 - As part of The Center for Diversity and Inclusion’s Hispanic Heritage Month event calendar, they will put on ‘An Evening with Richard Blanco’, an influential Hispanic and openly gay poet who spoke at President Barack Obama’s second inaugural address.

Center for Diversity and Inclusion hosts first Achievement Initiative for Minority Males (AIMM) banquet
October 7, 2015 - The Center for Diversity and Inclusion recently held a banquet to introduce campus faculty and staff to members of the Achievement Initiative for Minority Males (AIMM). The initiative is a highly selective program that supports the recruitment and retention of African American and Hispanic males at the UH.

The power of conversation: Soledad O’Brien discusses racial issues, facing history
February 26, 2015 - O’Brien, the primary speaker in the Center for Diversity and Inclusion’s Spring Speaker Series, used her journalism background to probe the serious — and recently magnified — issues surrounding the effects of racism in America to an audience of more than 1,200 in Cullen Performance Hall Tuesday night.

Culture Connect Week highlights diversity on campus
March 4, 2015 – This week marks the Center for Diversity and Inclusion’s first Culture Connect Week, a series of programs and events highlighting diversity on campus. The center hopes to make the week an annual tradition.

CNN anchor to bring Black in America tour to UH
February 15, 2015 – Courtesy of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the panel presentation is part of a tour that is an effective sequel to O’Brien’s 2008 documentary series, also titled “Black In America.” O’Brien will moderate a panel of three prominent black philanthropists as they speak on issues concerning race in modern society. They will also take questions from audience members.

Center for Diversity and Inclusion takes religion and spirituality head-on
February 3, 2015 - Religion and spirituality are touchy subjects for most people, but the Center for Diversity and Inclusion took the topic head-on at its first Cultural Conversation of the semester Tuesday. Students from all backgrounds filed in to share their perspectives on religion and spirituality during the hour-long discussion. The dialogue shifted from how each student related to religion or spirituality to defining what each entity meant to them to discuss ways in which students connected to a higher power.

A new center at the University of Houston harvests the most abundant element on campus…
November 26, 2014 - Diversity is part of the University of Houston’s calling card: “UH, one of the most ethnically diverse, urban, public, research universities in the country.”

Center for Diversity and Inclusion opens its doors
October 29, 2014 - On a campus as diverse as UH, it can sometimes be hard to find a group to fit into, especially one that has a similar cultural background.

New Director for Center for Diversity and Inclusion Announced
August 18, 2014 - Niya Blair will join the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services as the director for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion effective August 20, 2014.

How the Center for Diversity and Inclusion was formed
In the summer of 2013, the Multicultural Student Services Task Force was charged with identifying the feasibility of creating a new department/center that focuses on addressing the needs of the diverse University of Houston student population.