The UI is at the forefront of many endeavors, and it is our responsibility to lead by example. That includes taking a leadership role in addressing the critical social and cultural dialog of our generation—no matter how difficult such work may seem.

While work to remove spray-paint on campus from recent Black Lives Matter protests continues, the University of Iowa also is preserving the images in order that the messages not be forgotten and to help guide campus in its work to make meaningful changes.

Starting last week, University of Iowa students, faculty, and staff have used their voices to highlight the lack of racial equity and justice in our community.

The anger, sadness, and fear felt by our community, and specifically Black communities across our nation, over the killing of George Floyd are justified.

Yashwant Prakash Vyas, assistant director of Diversity Resources in the University of Iowa Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, was awarded the 2020 Edward S. Blankenship Outstanding Staff Award from Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars.

The search firm assisting with the hiring of a new University of Iowa associate vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion will host virtual meetings with campus stakeholders on April 21-22 to understand the job and the preferred qualities in potential candidates.

Four postdoctoral scholars comprise the University of Iowa Office of the Provost’s first cohort in the Provost’s Postdoctoral Faculty Fellowship Program. The program is intended to serve as a pipeline to tenure-track positions.

The University of Iowa has announced the members of the Strategic Plan Development Group that will lead the development of the UI Strategic Plan 2021–2026.

The co-chairs will lead a committee tasked with selecting the next associate vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The University of Iowa Student Disability Services (SDS) office, currently located in the basement of Burge Residence Hall, will move into a temporary location on the first floor of University Capitol Centre.

To reach the goals outlined in the Excellence through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan, the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will continue to work on critical tasks and collaborate with campus partners.

Thanks to a nearly $1-million-dollar federal grant received by the University of Iowa College of Education, individuals who are deaf or with hearing loss will be able to receive services from vocational rehabilitation counselors who speak American Sign Language (ASL).