Office of Diversity & Inclusion
You belong.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion furthers Richmont’s mission by promoting diverse voices and multicultural education in Christ-centered counseling and ministry education.
Richmont is committed to the intentional creation of an environment of belonging that celebrates the uniqueness and diversity of our students, faculty, and staff, with the goal of advancing God’s healing, restoration, and transformation in the lives of individuals, families, churches, and communities. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) seeks to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through four pillars: conversation, experiences, education, and action. The ODI team is comprised of faculty, staff, students, and alumni who plan events, develop strategy, and ensure the voices of all members of the Richmont community are heard.
ODI Leadership
Michelle West, MA
Vice President of Admissions; Co-Coordinator of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion
Travis Young, DMIN
Assistant Dean of the School of Ministry; Co-Coordinator of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion; IT Support Analyst
Initiatives
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion aids Richmont Graduate University in its commitment to the intentional creation of an environment of belonging that celebrates the uniqueness and diversity of our students, faculty, and staff. This supports the university-wide goal of advancing God’s healing, restoration, and transformation in the lives of individuals, families, churches, and communities.
To best serve the Richmont community, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is committed to initiatives that align with its four pillars of conversation, experiences, education, and action.
Virtual Town Hall meetings are held throughout the year. These meetings provide a forum for students, faculty, and staff to process recent events and promote dialogue on how to partner with and advocate for disadvantaged populations.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion encourages everyone to participate in:
- Ongoing diversity education and training
- Cultural conversations and exchanges
- Interaction and immersion with others who have different life experiences
- Taking action against injustice
Opportunities for discussion on topics including diversity, racial injustice, cultural humility, racism, the church’s role in societal change, and more are provided through several events:
- Reading groups and “watch and discuss” events
- Cultural competency training workshops
- Opportunities for social justice engagement and action
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is constantly adding to its range of activities for student, faculty, and staff involvement. Check out our Resources for links to advocacy groups, educational material, and more. If you would like additional resources or want to share suggestions, contact odi@richmont.edu
Resources
Advocacy Groups
Articles
Books
- Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience by Sheila Wise Row
- The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege by Ken Wytsma
- Black Families in Therapy: A Multisystems Approach by Nancy Boyd-Franklin
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo
- Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools by Jonathan Kozol
- I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
- Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Brian Stevenson
- Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?
- Culturally Sensitive Supervision and Training by Kenneth Hardy
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma” by Bessel Van Der Kolk
Videos
- Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Brian Stevenson
The Movie - Ted Talk: How Can We Make Racism a Solvable Problem and Improve Policing
- 10 Documentaries to Watch About Race Instead of Asking a Person of Colour to Explain Things For You
- BIPOC Faculty: Providing Support & Consultation while Managing Battle Fatigue