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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Proud of our differences. Still one pride.

Greensboro College is home to students from more than 20 countries and 29 states, with 41% of students identifying as persons of color. These aren’t the only ways we define diversity, but we are continuing to take intentional strides to better understand our community and provide the services and programs that represent our students.

Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The mission of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is to provide advocacy, programming, and services to enhance campus climate and support the retention of underrepresented and/or marginalized populations. Our core objectives are to:

SUPPORT: We aim to increase access to and remove barriers of success for first-generation students, students of color, and other under-served populations.

EDUCATE: We help facilitate the exploration of privilege and intersectionality among community members.

AFFIRM: We will strengthen our community through the validation, visibility, and development of student agency.

The Sankofa Center for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

The mission of The Sankofa Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (The Sankofa Center) is to foster leadership development to incite positive social change. Located on the first floor of the newly renovated Student Center, The Sankofa Center is the newest center for the Greensboro College community. It is based on the word, “sankofa” (pronounced SAHN-koh-fah), in the Twi language of Ghana and translates to, “Go back and get it” (san – to return; ko – to go; fa – to fetch, to seek and take). It also refers to the Asante Adinkra symbol represented either with a stylized heart shape or by a bird with its head turned backward, while its feet face forward, carrying a precious egg in its mouth. Programming in the space will consist of Network events, a leadership development program, and open lounge hours, all theoretically based in the Social Change Model, Critical Race Theory, and Kwanzaa.

Sankofa Center Networks

The Sankofa Center Networks serve as micro-communities where students who have common interests can get to know others in the Greensboro College community, empower each other, set new goals, and forge paths they may not have pursued alone.

To join the networks, visit the “Organizations” tab in the Greensboro College App (available in the Apple App Store and Google Play), or contact, Juilet Lowery, who is the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the Sankofa Center. Each network, as listed below, will also host programs and activities for members to gather and build community.

First Gen Club

Being the first in the family to go to college is an achievement, but sometimes, it’s overwhelming. It helps to know that you are not alone in this journey. Those in this group will not only be able to connect with other first-generation students, but also with college faculty, staff, and alums who were the first in their families to attend college.

Momentum

This network seeks to provide the social and emotional support to serve as a source of brotherhood and encouragement to propel men of color toward success, as students and beyond. Each of these men’s experiences is unique, but together, they create a force to be reckoned with.

The Brown Sugah Collective

The Brown Sugah Collective is a community space for reflection, venting, support, and celebration for women of color. As members of less privileged communities, based on gender and race, women of color can face numerous challenges that others simply do not understand or experience. By coming together, these women will gain from the power and strength of each other.

Sankofa Leadership Certificate

To assist in fulfilling the mission of the center, the Sankofa Leadership Certificate is a competency-based program for students to increase their personal awareness, knowledge, and skills in leadership. To complete the program, students must attend a series of workshops, complete five hours of community service in collaboration with Village 401, and complete a reflective presentation of their choice. Examples could include a poster, essay, video, or performance. Student leaders from across campus are encouraged to participate.

Certificate workshops are open to any student, whether they are completing the program or just attending as a drop-in. For more information contact sankofa@greensboro.edu.

The Rafiki Newsletter

The Rafiki Newsletter proved itself to be a major success in sharing information and resources to students across campus, and it now serves as the official Greensboro College student newsletter.

This informative, student-focused publication is distributed to our entire campus community, and includes information about student life, academic announcements, various events on campus (including theatre, music, and athletics events), non-emergency announcements from our campus public safety, student-submitted content, and other useful information.

The Rafiki will publish via email every Monday morning. Faculty, staff, and students can submit their events, announcements, recognitions, and other information by completing the Rafiki Submission Form. The submission deadline for each Monday’s newsletter is 5 p.m. on the proceeding Thursday.

Additional Resources

The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is proud to support and partner with other organizations on campus that work towards the same overall goal in various ways. To learn more about GC’s support network and other resources, visit any of the following links:

Contact Us

Juliet Lowery

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Phone: (336) 967-3777 x5463

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