UAMS Celebrates Diversity Month with Address, Awards
| Dozens of UAMS students, faculty and staff from throughout campus gathered for a celebration to kick off Diversity Month, at which Brian Gittens, Ed.D., who joined UAMS in June as the new vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion, presented his inaugural State of Diversity address.
The event also included the presentation of the Dr. Edith Irby Jones Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Awards, renamed this year in honor of the first African American admitted to UAMS, who graduated in 1952 and died in July.
UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, welcomes attendees with opening remarks.
“One of our greatest strengths is our diversity,” said UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, welcoming attendees to the event. “We have people who work here from 89 different cultures of every race and ethnic background. We have people here who pray on Friday, who pray on Saturday and who pray on Sunday or who don’t pray at all. Some of us are wearing print outfits and some of us are wearing plain colors.
“Those differences could keep us apart and make it difficult for us to work together and communicate. But here at UAMS it is just the opposite. Those differences are what give us our strength. Those difference are what allow us to understand one another, our patients, our students, better and deeper.”
Patterson noted that the institution’s commitment to diversity is embedded in its new strategic plan, Vision 2029, and applauded the work Gittens’ has already done since joining UAMS to pursue objectives within that plan.
“For me, every month is diversity month, and my goal is to have everyone share that same sentiment,” Gittens said.
In his address, Gittens introduced the idea of inclusive excellence, which he defined as a cultural shift of “getting away from just looking at numbers and making sure diversity and inclusion guide and shape how we do our work.”
Brian Gittens, Ed.D., vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion, delivers his State of Diversity address.
Gittens outlined strategic steps to advance inclusive excellence, including: a shared responsibility for putting diversity at the forefront of the internal culture; embedding it into recruitment of students, faculty and staff; incorporating it into the educational mission; forming partnerships to reinforce diversity; and being accountable for the results.
Gittens outlined plans to introduce a diversity officer within different administrative divisions of UAMS and announced plans to launch new volunteer committees responsible for outreach and organization of efforts to encourage minority recruitment, address veterans’ issues, disabled populations and the LGBTQ community.
Following the address, the Dr. Edith Irby Jones Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Awards were presented. Winners were chosen by a committee, which reviewed nominations of students, faculty and staff. The winners are:
Student: Danviona King, College of Pharmacy
Staff: April Hughes, UAMS Library Historical Research Center
Faculty: Gregory Robinson, Ph.D., College of Health Professions
Other nominees included:
Antiño Allen, Ph.D.
Ronda Henry-Tillman, M.D.
Aubrey Hough, M.D.
Kate Liebmann
Alex Marshall, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., MBA
Erick Messias, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.
Rebecca Moreira
Mildred Randolph, D.V.M.
Sara Tariq, M.D.
Billy Thomas, M.D., M.P.H.