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Yvette Alex-Assensoh
Vice President for Equity and Inclusion

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Bridging Histories and Shaping our Future: In Celebration of Asian, Desi, Pacific Islander American Heritage Month The origin of the celebration of what we now describe as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage dates back to the 95^th Congress (1978-79) and a set of joint resolutions for a week-long celebration instituted by the Administration of then President Jimmy Carter in 1978. President George H.W. Bush expanded the celebration to a full month in 1990. On May 1, 2009, President Barack Obama signed Proclamation 8369, earmarking the month of May of each year as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Subsequently – on April 30, 2021 – President Joe Biden signed Proclamation 10189 to reconstitute the month of May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Read More

Jewish American Heritage Month: A Salute in Memory of the Honorable Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg Very similar to all meaningful heritage and history commemorations, Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many contributions that Americans of Jewish ancestry have made to our country, our world and, indeed, our campus. Therefore, during Jewish American Heritage Month May 2024 at the University of Oregon, we invite you to take advantage of the resources available at the UO libraries, look into the course offerings and programs available through our university’s Judaic Studies Program, and join with others around Oregon and the world to explore close to four centuries of Jewish contributions to all aspects of American society. Read More

Welcome to Spring Term 2024: A Time of Light and Hope Ultimately, Springtime in Eugene is beautiful, but that beauty only emerges after months of a dreary sky and rain. The fact that beauty can and, often does, emerge from the rainy seasons of our lives is an encouragement, as people across our world experience wars, conflicts, unnecessary suffering as well as death at home and abroad. Read More

Ideal framework icons for Inclusion, Diversity, Evaluation, Advancement, Leadership

The I.D.E.A.L. Framework

We work collaboratively to strengthen individual capacity and community bonds to advance the academic mission of the university through
Inclusion, Diversity, Evaluation, Achievement Leadership

I.D.E.A.L.

L.A.C.E.*

L.A.C.E. embodies the universal tenets of
Love, Authenticity, Courage and Empathy.
These interlocking values represent the being and doing of individuals and the institutions in which they engage.

*©Yvette Alex-Assensoh 2013

L.A.C.E.

Native American Nine Flags Ceremony 2016

Land Acknowledgement

The University of Oregon is located on Kalapuya ilihi, the traditional indigenous homeland of the Kalapuya people. Following treaties between 1851 and 1855, Kalapuya people were dispossessed of their indigenous homeland by the United States government and forcibly removed to the Coast Reservation in Western Oregon. Today, Kalapuya descendants are primarily citizens of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and they continue to make important contributions to their communities, to the UO, to Oregon, and to the world.

In following the Indigenous protocol of acknowledging the original people of the land we occupy, we also extend our respect to the nine federally recognized Indigenous nations of Oregon: the Burns Paiute Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and the Klamath Tribes. We express our respect to the many more tribes who have ancestral connections to this territory, as well as to all other displaced Indigenous peoples who call Oregon home.

OUR UNITS

Staff of Office of Vice President for Equity and Inclusion

Office of Vice President for Equity and Inclusion (VPEI)

CMAE Winter Retreat Students talking at table

Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence (CMAE)

Multicultural Center (MCC)

CoDaC Mentor Gathering 2018 people talking at table

Center on Diversity and Community (CoDaC)

CACE: Campus and Community Engagement

CACE

Strategies Groups

Strategies and Working Groups are autonomous grass-roots organizations of faculty, staff, and students from Native, Black, Latinx, Asian, Desi and Pacific Islander, and white communities. Volunteers donate their personal time and energy in support of making the university a more welcoming place.