Mitchell named founding chief diversity officer

VCU announced the appointment of Wanda S. Mitchell, Ed.D., to be the university’s founding vice president for diversity and equity.

Mitchell's unit will focus on strengthening VCU's climate of equity, diversity and inclusiveness, and is responsible for implementing the university’s five-year diversity plan as well as all initiatives to sponsor diversity. Read more »

Definition of diversity

Diversity encompasses those who are different and similar by such characteristics as race, age, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability status, political affiliation, veteran status and socio-economic background. Diversity also includes differences in backgrounds, ideas, thought, values and beliefs. Diversity is also associated with principles of inclusion and the creation of safe and supportive environments where differences are respected, particularly with regard to historically underrepresented groups and legally protected categories to which individuals may belong.