Auburn recognizes and celebrates Juneteenth
Auburn University will be closed on Monday, June 20, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday, which falls on a Sunday this year.
Auburn recognizes and celebrates Juneteenth as a day to celebrate freedom, the end of slavery and as a day to reflect on the stain of slavery on this country’s history. All members of the Auburn Family are encouraged to take time this Juneteenth, June 19, to learn about and acknowledge this critical day in U.S. history.
Juneteenth acknowledges the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce that all enslaved people be freed, two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Last year, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law and made it a federal holiday. However, it was first celebrated in 1866 and is the nation’s oldest-known tradition honoring the end of slavery and commemorating Black freedom.
In 2020, the City of Auburn officially recognized Juneteenth as an important day in the state and city’s history. As an integral part of this city’s community, Auburn and the Office of Inclusion and Diversity, or OID, hosted a luncheon on June 10 that commemorated Juneteenth that was attended by many members of the Auburn community.
To learn more about Auburn’s commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus community, please visit Auburn’s DEI landing page, OID’s website, Instagram page, or sign up for the OID newsletter.
War Eagle,
Dr. Taffye Benson Clayton
Vice President and Associate Provost for Inclusion and Diversity
Auburn recognizes and celebrates Pride Month
Every June, the country celebrates Pride Month, which annually coincides with the Stonewall Uprising of June 28, 1969, a turning point in LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) rights. The purpose of the month is to recognize the impact that LGBTQ individuals have had on society locally, nationally, and internationally.
Auburn is proud to celebrate and acknowledge the vast contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals to our society and culture. The university and the Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OID) are committed to ensuring all members of the LGBTQ+ community feel accepted, seen, and included on campus. The Auburn family is encouraged to learn more about, and support, the LGBTQ+ community on campus by engaging with Spectrum: The Gay-Straight Alliance at Auburn University, which holds events and meetings throughout the year. To ensure that as many students as possible were able to participate in events that celebrate and recognize Pride Month before students leave for the summer, the Office of Inclusion and Diversity held its annual Pride Week April 25-29, 2022.
During that week, Auburn hosted the inaugural Lavender Celebration to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and ally students and acknowledge their achievements and contributions to the university. The ceremony honored 2022 graduates, and OID presented Jeffery Fergus and Kamden Strunk with the LGBTQ Advocate Award, which recognizes a current faculty or staff member that exemplifies advocacy and allyship for LGBTQIA+ students at Auburn. Recipients like these two professors have a demonstrated track record of advancements toward a more inclusive campus and go beyond their professional duties to mentor, challenge and support students at the university.
To learn more about Auburn’s commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus community, please visit Auburn’s DEI landing page, OID’s website, Instagram page, or sign up for the OID newsletter.
War Eagle,
Dr. Taffye Benson Clayton
Vice President and Associate Provost for Inclusion and Diversity
Auburn University Diversity Statement
Diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice are important values at Auburn University.
Auburn University will proactively work to eliminate barriers facing underrepresented community members and commit to sustaining and supporting diversity in all its forms including those based on life experience, gender, sex, nationality, race, identity, ethnicity, age, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, disability, neurodiversity, and religion. Auburn will actively cultivate a community where all members are valued, respected and can thrive personally and professionally. Auburn will invest substantial resources to increase the number of underrepresented groups in all facets of the University to include staff, students, faculty, vendors, partners and those who offer voluntary service.
Auburn will measure its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice through ongoing assessment and evaluation of activities and individual and collective actions as reflected in practices, procedures, programs, relationships, behaviors and campus culture.
- Cross Cultural Center for Excellence
- Women's Initiatives and Gender Equity
- Diversity Education and Engagement
- Diversity Partners
Women’s Initiatives and Gender Equity represents the concerns of and supports all Auburn University women including faculty, staff, students and administrative and professional personnel. WIGE provides programming and strategically collaborates and guides efforts to facilitate the recruitment, hiring (for employees), retention, and professional development of women by addressing issues that affect personal well-being and professional needs of women across campus.
The primary focus of these efforts involves attending to Campus Climate issues for women through programming, research, advocacy, outreach, consultation, assessment, scholarship, and recommendations about policies and procedures to University officials. To best attend to Campus Climate issues for women, Women’s Initiatives is eager to discuss challenges and successes experienced by women across campus and those invested in supporting Auburn women.
With an increasingly diverse campus, workforce, and global economy, diversity, equity, and inclusion knowledge and skills is vital in order to maximize organizational performance, collaboration, innovation, and outcomes. The Office of Inclusion and Diversity provides education and consultative services to support Auburn University toward the most productive, vibrant, collaborative, and welcoming environment for all. We use research-informed strategy to address challenges at varying scales and contribute to the organizational learning and strategic goals of our campus.
We are proud of the collaborative and engaging diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of our partners across Auburn University including:
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Alumni Affairs
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College of Sciences and Mathematics Office of Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity
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Division of Student Affairs
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Human Resources
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Office of International Programs
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Presidential Taskforce for Opportunity and Equity
And many others!
What’s Happening at Auburn
OID News & Events
Tiger Giving Day 2021: “Together We Will”
Auburn Dedicates Campus Residence Hall
Auburn University MANRRS graduate student, Tallassee twins win big in national contest highlighting importance of diversity and inclusion
Student leaders in Auburn University’s Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, or MANRRS, chapter were honored recently for their entries in three components of the nonprofit organization’s national contest.
Meyer conducting research surrounding diversity and inclusion within the aviation industry
Following a lifetime of interest in aviation, Alan Meyer is currently conducting research surrounding diversity and inclusion within the industry. Meyer is an associate professor at Auburn University who teaches history of technology and aviation history. He has acquired an array of experiences from earning a pilot’s license at 18-years-old to serving with the Green Berets.
Auburn University awarded $1.5 million National Institutes of Health grant to broaden student participation in biomedical sciences
Auburn University has been awarded a prestigious $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, to broaden participation in the sciences for traditionally underrepresented students and diversify the pool of scientists earning doctoral degrees in the biomedical sciences.
Alumni Spotlight: Tracy Awino, NYC-based photographer and 2017 journalism graduate
Tracy Awino, a 2017 Auburn University journalism graduate, is currently a professional photographer based out of New York City. Her impressive portfolio includes notable clients such as Keenan Thompson, Ben Affleck, Pop Smoke, Kaash Paige, Logan Browning, and companies like Reebok, and Adidas.
Distinguished alum Kenneth Kelly offers encouragement, words of wisdom to graduates at Auburn’s spring commencement
Auburn University alumnus Kenneth Kelly helped his alma mater kick off its spring commencement weekend at Jordan-Hare Stadium Friday night with a call for graduates to reach high as they embark on their next journey.
National champion Kimeli has big plans for career on, off track
National Champion Joyce Kimeli has big plans for her career on & off the track, and wants to help others as a nurse while she chases her Olympic dreams
Auburn University dedicates campus residence hall in honor of trailblazer Bessie Mae Holloway
Auburn University honored one of its most esteemed alumni at a dedication ceremony for the Bessie Mae Holloway Hall in the Village area of campus.
Auburn freshman Evins poised for dynamic college experience on the Plains
Donovan Evins is not your typical college freshman.
The 18-year-old Meridian, Mississippi, native arrived at Auburn University last fall full of hope, promise and big goals, and he has hit the ground running on the Plains.
Auburn University’s Clayton pens article about diversity, equity and inclusion for ‘Higher Education Today’
Auburn University’s Taffye Benson Clayton, vice president and associate provost for the Office of Inclusion and Diversity, or OID, was recently featured by the American Council on Education.
