The Evolution of Inclusive Excellence, Reducing Health Disparities, and Advancing Health Equity
Throughout its history, the School of Nursing has worked to improve health for all by building health equity through nursing education. It has made a point to highlight the significant and evolving role of diversity within the School, and, more broadly, in health care and other institutions of society.
Initial efforts by the School, beginning in the 1960s, focused on recruitment and retention of underrepresented and underserved students. As a result, the installment of the School’s first diversity initiative, the Equal Opportunity Program, was begun in 1969. The creation of the program marked the beginning of a long, evolving journey for the School of Nursing.
The Equal Opportunity Program evolved in the 1980s to expand beyond recruitment and retention efforts of students. Referred to as the Minority/Disadvantaged Program from 1987 to 1991, it incorporated new areas of focus including monitoring access to academic opportunities of minority and disadvantaged students, as well as recruitment and retention initiatives for not just students but underrepresented faculty and staff. The addition of a Minority Academic Affairs Committee (MAAC) during this time helped provide guidance for faculty about policies and academic programming.
In 1988, the School also launched an Office of Ethnic Studies, whose goal was to improve recruitment and retention of underrepresented and underserved students.
Efforts continued to focus heavily on recruitment and retention through the 1990s. However, as the School entered the 21st century, conversations in the workforce began shifting. Throughout health care, confidence in utilizing nurses as changemakers was increasing, as were conversations around how nurses positively impact those they serve by addressing inequities, disparities, and advocating for diversity.
As a result, the School of Nursing’s focus on health equity initiatives began to evolve, and the School began to deepen its understanding and definition of diversity. The formation of the Equity and Diversity Committee (now known as the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee or EDIC) in 2007 helped to further shift the School’s focus and understanding. Since EDIC’s inception, the School has advanced its vision to include not just equity, but inclusion, belonging, and mattering.
Today, the School actively fosters an environment that seeks and celebrates the breadth of lived experiences, backgrounds, and identities among its students, faculty, and staff. The value of diversity and need for inclusion is threaded throughout curricula, programming, student services, and in research and scholarly work.
Today, the School defines inclusive excellence as the social commitment to build equitable, diverse, and caring environments to ensure all nurses are equipped to embody social justice and the richness of difference in order to help advance the health of the nation and the global community. The School prepares students for the roles they will have in addressing health inequities.
Beyond the academic setting, the impact of the School of Nursing’s integrated research and practice focuses on the needs of those whose health status or social condition leaves them vulnerable or places them at risk. Collaborative innovations increase the breadth of participation in health care research, promote the sharing of diverse interprofessional perspectives, provide tools to support those working with vulnerable populations, and enhance community outreach.
As the School of Nursing sets its sights on the next 100 years, it embraces a definition of diversity that acknowledges the intersection of multiple factors, perspectives, and identities. Race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual preference, socioeconomic status, nationality, religion, age, physical characteristics, and more, are all integral when it comes to addressing everything that diversity encompasses today.
While much progress has been made throughout the School’s history, it recognizes that these initiatives are ongoing, and involve lifelong learning. The School of Nursing believes that this continuous pursuit of developing understanding is crucial to building true equity.
School of Nursing establishes new position in 2023: Associate Dean for Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
In August 2023, the School of Nursing welcomed Diamond D. Williams, DrPH, MPH, as the School’s inaugural associate dean for health equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. Williams is a multifaceted public health leader and visionary health equity strategist, known for her role in fostering organizational growth through groundbreaking thought leadership and a wealth of experience in community outreach and engagement, grant management, and program oversight. Her exceptional ability to proactively identify emerging needs within diverse populations and implement innovative solutions has made a significant and positive impact on public health
Q: In your opinion, how are health equity, diversity, and inclusion (HEDI) initiatives and strategies uniquely important to the field of nursing?
A: “I truly believe that HEDI initiatives are like the heart and soul of nursing. Think of it this way — when our nursing community reflects the beautiful diversity of the people we care for, it makes everything better.
In everyday terms, it’s about making sure everyone feels seen, heard, and valued, especially when they walk through our doors seeking care. We’re all about providing the best support and understanding for our patients. Embracing diversity helps us do just that.
For our students, it’s like preparing them with a superpower — the ability to connect with and understand all kinds of people. That’s a big deal because it means they can adapt to the unique needs of each person they’ll help in the future.
And you know what’s cool? Embracing diversity doesn’t just make us better caregivers; it also sparks new ideas and solutions. It’s like having a mix of ingredients that make a recipe more flavorful — in our case, that mix is what keeps health care innovative and patient-focused.
So, in a nutshell, these initiatives aren’t just goals we set; they’re the heart of what we do. It’s about making sure everyone gets the same top-notch care, and about creating a nursing community that is as diverse as the wonderful people we serve.”