Skip to Content

Search: {{$root.lsaSearchQuery.q}}, Page {{$root.page}}

Writing the Diversity Statement

This statement should document your commitment to, and personal achievements in, advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion goals within academia and beyond. This can include sustained engagement, service, or leadership to increase access, retention, and success of underrepresented populations in higher education.

Some areas of interest to the program are:

  • Potential to contribute to higher education through the scholarly understanding of barriers facing women, domestic racial/ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, and other members of groups underrepresented in higher education, as may be evidenced by life experiences and educational background. Examples include but are not limited to:
    • ability to articulate the barriers facing specific groups in fields where they are underrepresented;
    • attendance (undergraduate or graduate) at a minority serving institution;
    • participation in higher education pipeline programs such as Summer Research Opportunity Programs or McNair Scholars;
    • significant academic achievement in the face of barriers such as economic, social, or educational disadvantage.
    • commitment to allyhood through learning about structural inequities demonstrated by, for example, extensive reading or focused coursework, or participation in professional development programs or institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
  • A record of academic service to advance equitable access to higher education for groups in fields where they are underrepresented (i.e. women, racial/ethnic minorities, first-generation college students, student veterans).
  • Demonstrated engagement with historically underserved populations, and bringing this experience to the scholarship, teaching, and learning mission of the university. This commitment may reflected by leadership or active participation in:
    • departmental or institutional committees, task force groups, or other workgroups;
    • local or national service related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, such as through professional societies and organizations;
    • scholarship, practice, or policy efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion or social justice for historically underrepresented or marginalized groups (at campus, local community, state, or national levels);
    • other community engagement or outreach activities relevant to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and access, such as volunteer activities, consulting, or advising.
  • A record of leadership or significant experience performing public service addressing the needs of our increasingly diverse society.