Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Excellence
Our Mission
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are core to the mission and values of the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) — and integral to our excellence in discovery, learning, engagement and community. We are committed to the recruitment and retention of faculty, staff and students with diverse identities, cultures, backgrounds and perspectives. To that end, we seek to cultivate and sustain an inclusive environment in which individuals receive support and experience a sense of belonging. We intentionally seek to establish and maintain unbiased practices, procedures, policies and learning opportunities that are critical for equitable outcomes. Our learning, research and engagement must occur without prejudice, bias, intimidation, intolerance or discrimination.
Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Together
An associate director for diversity, equity and inclusion contributes to the development, implementation and assessment of policies, practices and initiatives. Each HHS department and school also has a dedicated director of diversity, equity and inclusion who heads their department or school’s DEI committee. College-level and student committees also contribute to HHS’ all-inclusive approach to DEI strategies and initiatives.
HHS Connex
Through the Health and Human Sciences (HHS) Connex program, students have access to additional college-specific events, activities, and experiences that are designed to foster community, belongingness and allyship among HHS undergraduates. During the academic year, HHS Connex provides a variety of programming to foster community and belonging for underrepresented students through career development workshops, research sessions, social networking events, academic engagement and collaboration across campus.
Additionally, the HHS Connex Summer Experience offers programming specifically designed to welcome underrepresented students to the HHS community. Upwards of 50 first year students live and learn together through a cohort-style HHS course, peer mentoring and social activities designed for personal and professional community-building.
Get Involved in Our DEI Initiatives
HHS offers a variety of diversity, equity and inclusion programming for students, faculty and staff, from college-wide activities, such as our Critical Conversations series and awards, to department- and school-level opportunities that include courses for college credit, DEI-focused seminars and more. Our HHS Success Mentors program matches first-year undergraduate students with a student mentor who shares similar interests and experiences. The HHS Graduate Excellence Fellowship is designed to aid in the recruitment of doctoral students who show exceptional promise for contributing to the College’s mission of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. Funding is also available for HHS students to participate in DEI-focused training, workshops and other learning opportunities. Faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in the HHS DEI Science Consortium, which offers a multidisciplinary platform to elevate science and practices to guide a more diverse, equitable and inclusive space.
DEI Research
Whether they’re investigating ways to dismantle policies and systems that lead to health disparities or understanding the internal processes by which individuals accept and reject others, researchers in the College of Health and Human Sciences are engaged in a variety of research topics to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in local communities, across the country and around the world. The HHS DEI Science Consortium facilitates and supports research that is relevant to issues of DEI and/or research that focuses on underrepresented minority populations or people belonging to stigmatized or underrepresented groups.
DEI Campus Resources
Contact Us
(765) 494-4102
Phone- tcsalvo@purdue.eduEmail
- View ProfilePersonal Website
Tammy Conard-Salvo
Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion