The office of the university diversity officer
The university diversity officer (UDO) works to position the University of Washington as a leader of institutional diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) and guides University-wide, high-level DEIB efforts.
The Office of the UDO serves the tri-campus community and supports the University’s vision to “educate a diverse student body to become responsible global citizens and future leaders through a challenging learning environment informed by cutting-edge scholarship.” We believe that it is by leveraging the talents and skills of students, faculty and staff who come to us with a diversity of views and lived experiences that we will be able to meet the complex needs of our state, our nation and the world. The UDO works collaboratively with and serves as a resource for the UW campuses, schools, colleges and administrative units, as they contribute to and assess their work toward the UW’s goals for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Role of the UDO Office
University-wide Diversity Councils
With a new 5-council structure implemented in the 2024-25 academic year, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Councils will advise and support the University Diversity Officer (UDO) and work to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to excellence at the University of Washington campuses. The five councils are: the DEI Leads Council, the Staff DEI Council, the Student & Student-Facing DEI Council, the Centers DEI Council, and the Faculty DEI Council.
The University of Washington’s DEIB efforts are guided by the UW Diversity Blueprint. The Diversity Blueprint outlines a set of high-level, aspirational goals for our tri-campus community.
DEIB Seed Grants support projects for institutional transformation across the University of Washington’s tri-campus community that align with the goals of the 2022-2026 UW Diversity Blueprint.
Affinity groups at the UW help staff and faculty build community and create networks within the UW community.
Cultivating Community: Anti-racism and DEI&B in the Workplace
Cultivating Community at UW: Anti-Racism and DEI&B in the Workplace is a baseline training on a range of equity-related topics such as racism, disability and accessibility, and LGBTQ+ identities, highlighting how these issues affect UW colleagues and students. This course is required for staff, faculty and other academic personnel.
OMA&D Education and Training Offerings
OMA&D’s educational offerings help UW faculty and staff engage in DEIB education for self-growth, awareness, and to support more effective engagement with students, faculty and staff. These offerings are intended to explore DEIB issues from an entry level.
DEI trainings offered by UW human resources
UW HR offers DEIB courses through Professional & Organizational Development (POD) to encourage employees to engage in and advance the conversation on DEIB.
The Odegaard Award honors a member of our community whose leadership sustains the former UW president’s distinguished work on behalf of diversity at the UW.
The Spark Award recognizes the accomplishments of a recent UW graduate who made significant DEI contributions during their time as a student and continues to do so post-graduation.
As the UW’s signature event to support diversity, equity and inclusion, Celebration showcases inspiring community leadership, academic excellence and our remarkable students.
MLK Day and Black History Month Spotlights
To celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to celebrate Black History Month, the UDO’s office selects and honors two UW community members for their commitment to inclusion on the UW campus in Seattle.
The Distinguished Staff Awards recognize individuals and teams that exemplify UW staff excellence in five categories, including DEI.
Board of Regents DEI Advisory Committee
The UDO staffs and works closely with the UW Board of Regents DEI Advisory Committee. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee strives to achieve a truly inclusive and equitable environment for learning, research, service and procurement/contracting opportunities. The Advisory Committee works towards this goal through the following actions:
- ALIGNMENT of board action with university-wide goals and objectives
- AMPLIFYING support for presidential and university-wide initiatives supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion for students, faculty, staff and procurement/contracting
- ACCELERATING university action through shared accountability and governance
Race & Equity Initiative Advisory Committee
The Race & Equity Initiative Advisory Committee is co-chaired by University Diversity Officer Rickey Hall and Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs Ed Taylor and is composed of leadership from each of the UW campuses. The committee ensures that the Initiative’s work plan aligns with the goals of the 2022–26Diversity Blueprint
Anti-racist Leadership Institute
The Antiracist Leadership Institute: Power, Privilege, and (Becoming) an Antiracist Leader, is an annual two-day event. The Institute prepares leaders who want to challenge and dismantle racism, white supremacy, oppression and the status quo.
Building Bridging Workshops
Building and Bridging Racial Caucus Network was an exploratory program created under the auspices of the University Diversity Officer. The program is now transitioning to a workshop model that will provide specific topic-focused educational sessions open to faculty and staff across the university. Topics may include community-building, strategic action & institutional policy, antiracist leadership, and more.
About Us
Rickey Hall
Rickey Hall is the University of Washington’s eighth vice president for minority affairs and diversity and university diversity officer. As the university diversity officer, Hall works collaboratively with and serves as a resource for UW leadership and UW campuses, schools, colleges and administrative units as they establish, coordinate and assess their contributions to institutional diversity goals. Hall also leads the UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D), which administers programs that broaden college access, support student success and enhance diversity-related teaching and learning across campus.
Contact University Diversity Officer
Phone: (206) 543-2441
Central UDO Team
Julia Ceraolo
Program Operations Specialist