Millersville University will continue to enhance the diversity of people, thought, and perspectives in our community because we believe it to be a source of enrichment and intellectual growth. Members of the community will be empowered by policies and practices that promote fairness, justice, civility, and accessibility. We will continue to prepare our students for citizenship in a world of increasing human diversity. We will actively advance an atmosphere of mutual respect, tolerance, understanding, sensitivity, and appreciation for the richness of human diversity through programs, workshops, dialogue, and training. The University will continually renew itself as a place where inquiry is encouraged, ideas are expressed openly, and the dignity and rights of all individuals are respected and protected.

University Success

Faculty and Staff Success

Program Success

Student Success

University Success

• A partnership between Millersville University and Overbrook High School, Philadelphia, Pa., is providing an opportunity for inner-city Philadelphia students to attend a post-secondary school. The partnership is in response to Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter's call for colleges and universities to work with Philadelphia high schools to help create a "college going culture" in each school.
• In 2010-11, the University hosted a series of events in coordination with the University's Common Reading Program selection Einstein's Dreams. Dr. Alan Lightman, physicist, novelist, essayist, educator and author of Einstein's Dreams, presented "The Physicist as Novelist" during the 26th Annual Millersville University Brossman Science Lecture. Ed Metzger, accomplished actor and writer, portrayed Einstein in "Albert Einstein: The Practical Bohemian," which provided insight into Einstein's history through the Holocaust, the Manhattan Project, the theory of relativity, his religious beliefs, his personal life and his idiosyncrasies.
• Millersville University faculty, staff and students joined institutions around the world in the Chroma256 International Colour Project, which explores relationships to color in an international context involving culture, research and personal expression.
• The entire Millersville University campus community came together to recognize Silencing the Hate week, the objective of which is to bring attention to anti lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, queer/questioning, intersex or allies / androgynous / asexual name-calling, bullying and harassment
• In coordination with Social Equity and Diversity, Student Affairs established a website focusing on cyber bullying and its effects, and began a communication initiative with faculty, staff and students.
• Millersville University hosted its 31st Annual Holocaust Conference in April, Memories of the Holocaust and Genocide.
• Dr. Roy Richard Grinker, cultural anthropologist from George Washington University whose daughter was diagnosed with autism, spoke about his long-term interest in and study of autism in the United States and other cultures.
• The Black Culture Celebration, Black Student Union and NAACP, Millersville University College Chapter, sponsored Soulful Expression with rapper Common, who spoke on "Lessons of Life, the Human Spirit, Human Nature and Common Ground: Empowering Urban Youth."
• Millersville University held a Disabilities Resource Fair, which provided an opportunity to network with Central Pennsylvania organizations currently meeting the needs of local individuals with disabilities, and familiarized members of the public with the diverse set of services available for individuals in the area with disabilities.
• Millersville University hosted a World Language & English as a Second Language Conference, where Drs. William and Persida Himmele, elementary and early childhood education, spoke on their book, "The Language-Rich Classroom."
• A traditional Kwanzaa celebration including a ceremony and explanation of its history and symbols and followed by an African feast featured Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, professor in the Department of African American Studies at Temple University.
• Millersville University hosted the Peace-Education-Ireland Symposium/Kenderdine Lecture with Caitlin Donnelly, who was appointed as lecturer in the School of Education, Queen's University in September 2005. Her primary research interests and areas of expertise include schools and inter-group relations, school ethos and the role of education in plural and divided societies.
• Millersville University hosted the 24th annual Glenna Hazeltine Women in Mathematics and Science Conference, which featured Captain Colleen Nevius, retired United States Navy Reserve test pilot, and William F. Readdy, retired NASA astronaut.
• The University held a screening of the film "Waiting for Superman," followed by a panel discussion of the many elements presented in the film. Panelists included a local superintendent of schools, a union representative, a teacher, a community member, a high school student and a graduate of Millersville University.
• In an effort to enhance the recruitment of diverse applicant pools, the Offices of Human Resources and Social Equity & Diversity participated in the Career Link's Job Fair. Representatives from both offices met with more than 1,000 job seekers and educated the local community on how to apply online for employment opportunities at Millersville.

Faculty and Staff Success

• C. Richard Beam, professor emeritus of German and director of Millersville's Center for Pennsylvania German Studies, published The Language and Culture of the Pennsylvania Germans: A Festschrift for Earl Haag. Written as a special issue of the Yearbook of the Society for German-American Studies, the "festschrift" (a book honoring a respected person), served as a tribute to Haag, retired professor emeritus of German studies at Penn State University, on his 80th birthday. The Center for Pennsylvania German Studies was established at Millersville in 1986 and is supported by the Max Kade Fund.
• Patricia Hopson-Shelton, retired assistant to the president for social equity, was appointed to the United States Commission on Civil Rights Pennsylvania State Advisory Committee.

Program Success

• A survey conducted in Millersville University's Polling & Research Office, under the supervision of Dr. Kerrie Farkas, English, and director of the Center for Public Scholarship, and Dr. Adam Lawrence, government & political affairs, was launched to measure student perception and participation in civic engagement and service learning. More than 850 students responded to the survey, providing useful information for program assessment and future planning efforts. More than 75 percent of respondents surveyed indicated that they had volunteered during the past year or were currently volunteering in a neighborhood, church, university community or other setting. Almost 20 percent of respondents said that they had taken a service learning course in the past year or were currently taking a service learning course.
• Millersville University's 2010 Leadership Development Program class for supervisors and managers included 17 faculty and staff members. Class members participated in a variety of programs, which enabled them to discover their personal supervisory style, learn and practice supervisory skills and explore the role of supervision and management at Millersville.
• This spring, Millersville University's Office of Global Education and Partnerships co-sponsored the 2011 World Food Fair with Eshleman Elementary School. Attendees sampled food from around the world and participated in many cultural activities. Winning photos, submitted by Millersville's study abroad participants, were also on display.
• The University established a Safe Zone program, a visible network of employees who support individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex or androgynous/allies (LGBTQIA). The program provides a supportive campus environment by improving the visibility of faculty and staff who are trained to provide resources for LGBTQIA students and employees. The Safe Zone program will increase the campus community's knowledge and sensitivity to their issues
• Millersville administrators and faculty presented three workshops at the PASSHE Diversity Summit in September; 15 Millersville University faculty and staff attended.

• Millersville students Kaitlyn Rodgers and Amanda Reilly served as student advisors to the Millersville Borough Council. Students who serve in this role act as liaisons to strengthen the University's relationship with the Borough.
• Ashley McLaughlin, president of MU Allies, was awarded the 2010 FAB Award at the Fall Achievement Benefit sponsored by the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center Coalition of Central Pennsylvania. He was recognized for his work with the Gay Straight Alliance Leadership Summit and Common Roads program.
• More than 200 students participated in sexual harassment prevention programs as part of the training and orientation for the Pre-Scholars Institute, Orientation Leaders, Empower Peer Educators, Peer Mentors and resident and graduate assistants within Housing & Residential Programs.