Office of the President's Diversity Initiative

The President’s Diversity Initiative, established in 1999, is a campus-wide endeavor devoted to promoting diversity and inclusion at Portland State University. The Diversity Action Council (DAC), which is central to the initiative, is a presidentially-appointed group of faculty, staff, and students who engage in diversity planning and programming of importance to the campus. We define diversity broadly, and promote equity and inclusion across lines of race, gender, ethnicity, culture, age, sexual orientation, religion, political viewpoint, military background, national origin, marital status, and disability.

Creating a positive climate for diversity at Portland State depends on the efforts of many people and is the responsibility of campus leadership on every level. OPDI plays an important role in campus leadership for diversity, but many offices, programs, and campus leaders are involved in diversity efforts that are entirely independent of our work. If you are interested in learning about diversity at Portland State, please contact us, and we will do our best to connect you with the right people or invite you into one of our own projects.

The OPDI staff is guided by a vision of a campus infused with a commitment to diversity and inclusion; where faculty, staff, and students see diversity as an integral part of academic excellence; where open and rich communications across race, gender, and other boundaries are commonplace; and where the formal and informal campus leadership is diverse, with cultural differences among campus leaders appreciated as an advantage for creative decision making. We believe that the campus we envision is emerging at Portland State and that our vision is achievable in the not too distant future.

Our Leadership

	Martha Balshem, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology & Special Assistant to the President for Diversity
	Samuel Henry, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Education, Director of Intercultural Initiatives, Co-Chair of PSUnity
	Kelle Lawrence, Coordinator of Diversity Programs, Chair of PSUnity
	Ed Washington, Community Liaison for Diversity Initiatives