Sept. 16, 2024

Dear URI Community,

Welcome to the newest members of our community and welcome back to those returning to URI! I joined the University in January as the vice president for community, equity, and diversity and chief diversity officer. Since then, I have learned a lot from listening to community members in every corner of the campus.

URI is a vibrant, warm, welcoming place bursting with pride. We are proud of our location in the Ocean State, proud of our contributions to impactful education and research, and, most importantly, proud of our people—the students, faculty, and staff who make this University what it is. And I am proud and humbled to lead the Office of Community, Equity, and Diversity (CED).

CED leads institution-wide initiatives to anchor inclusion in every aspect of URI’s community and operations. CED aims to advance inclusion by cultivating community, enhancing equity, and demonstrating diversity. We cannot fulfill that mission and vision without YOU. YOU are included in making URI a place where every member of the community can learn, work, and thrive. No one office or individual can do that work alone. To accomplish what may feel like a stretch goal, it takes YOU, each of you, doing your part. 

How can you do your part? 

• Don’t hate. Know that hate in any form will not be tolerated at URI.
• Balance the entitlement to speak freely and to disagree—as required for learning and growth—with the expectation of responsible, respectful engagement. Remember the platinum rule: treat others the way that they want to be treated.
• Take ownership of your impact on a fellow Ram’s ability to feel included and find a sense of belonging.
• Maintain community standards by reporting concerning conduct. Reporting allows offices charged with providing resources to support everyone involved.
• Speak out to interrupt bias when you can safely do so.

You can also do your part by nominating yourself or a colleague to serve on the reconstituted University Diversity Council (UDC). UDC will amplify and coordinate the extensive diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts happening across the University. Through UDC, every constituency—students, faculty, staff, and affiliates—will have a voice in shaping what our rights and responsibilities are to one another in this amazing, broadly representative community as Rhody Rams.

Who will it take to do the work of fostering an inclusive culture? You. You are included. Let’s get to work.

Go Rhody!

Markeisha Miner
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer