WPI rebrands Office of Multicultural Affairs to reflect diversity mission

Photo | Timothy Doyle WPI campus in Worcester

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By Timothy Doyle

The Office of Multicultural Affairs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has renamed itself the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education, to more accurately portray its role going forward.

“We have been doing a lot of education through social media, university announcements, and different workshops with students and campus organizations, and the new name better aligns with that work, as well as the times we are living in,” said Rachael Heard, WPI’s director of academic programming and student transition in an Aug. 10 release.

The programs the office offers will not change very much, but there will be some strategic changes to help better serve the school’s community.

In July, the school hired Kalvin Cummings as its first assistant director for religion and spiritual life.

“We will be focusing on LGBTQIAP+ student support and diversity programs that students will see and feel across campus and throughout the community,” said Arnold Lane, Jr., director of multicultural education and community engagement.

The school will be creating new identity centers, the Center for Black Excellence and the Lavender Lounge, with more planned.

The office is overseeing a remodel of the OASIS Multicultural Center and the installation of a new wheelchair ramp at the Collegiate Religious Center on the campus.

“I would love to see diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging work become more sustainable across divisions and departments. DEIB work is everyone’s job, and I think there is a real opportunity here for all of our campus community members to become part of the story in an intentional way,” said Heard.