Friday 5th November 2021
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-oriented publication and website in higher education, has recognized Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine as a 2021 Diversity Champion and a 2021 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. The double honor marks the first time that the publication has chosen a veterinary university as diversity champion.
The Health Professions HEED Award is a national honor for US colleges and universities that show an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. INSIGHT Into Diversity also recognizes those colleges and universities that are among the best of the HEED Award recipients as diversity champions.
Known for visionary leadership, Diversity Champions are institutions that serve as role models and set the standard for thousands of other U.S. college campuses striving for inclusive excellence. These institutions are recognized for having shown a relentless commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout their campus communities, in academic programs, and at the highest levels of government.
“Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine is a visionary pioneer among universities striving for inclusive excellence across campus,” said Lenore Pearlstein, editor of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “As a Diversity Champion School, the college exceeds everyday expectations by developing successful strategies and programs that serve as a model of excellence for other universities.”
The college will be featured in the December 2021 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine along with 50 other HEED Health Professions Award Winners. Recognition as a diversity champion is more selective. The college is one of only 16 academic institutions that have received the award of Diversity Champion 2021 in addition to the HEED Award.
“Our college is a national leader with model initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion in both academic veterinary medicine and veterinary medicine as a whole,” said Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed. “This success is the result of years of sustained effort, dedication, and innovation aimed at making measurable progress as a college and healthcare profession by genuinely welcoming and supporting everyone. This is only possible because our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion is much more than just something we talk about. We live it, day in and day out, and this award reflects that reality.
Dr. Latonia Craig, assistant dean for Inclusive Excellence, said the award was an important endorsement of the college’s remarkable progress, although much remains to be done. “Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine is committed to promoting a collegiate culture where diversity, equality, and inclusion run through our entire program. This award does not in any way mean that we are a perfect college because we know and understand that we still have a lot to do. The Diversity Champion award shows how our progress is on the way up and that we have a college that invests in work and is able to take us to greater heights, ”said Dr. Craig. “Our efforts will focus on filling in gaps where perception and reality may not always match. We all know the importance of maintaining a climate that supports the work and learning experiences of our faculty, staff and students. We will continue to raise the bar in this area through critical reflection, commitment, innovative programming and always with the conscious desire to get and become better. “
For more information about the HEED Award or recognition as a Diversity Champion, please visit Insightintodiversity.com.
Author (s):
Hailee Rolofson, intern at PVM Communications | pvmnews@purdue.edu