Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion remain an important priority for GW and the Elliott School. As the University has taken important steps to create a more inclusive community, the Elliott School has also taken crucial actions towards this goal.

We will not be silent. We will call it by its name: racism.

A message to our community:

We share in the sadness, frustration, and anger caused by the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade. We acknowledge the pain and stress that our Black community is experiencing as these names are now added to the list of countless lives ended far too early. We will not be silent. We will call out these egregious acts by their name: racism. The Elliott School condemns racism and discrimination and remains committed to fostering an inclusive community. Our school’s mission is focused on advancing the understanding of global issues. We cannot turn a blind eye to what is happening within our country, its impact on our community members, or its connection to the human rights issues we seek to better understand each day.

The Elliott School’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion will hold space on Friday, June 5 at 1:00 pm ET for our community to process these recent tragedies. If you are a GW community member who would like to participate in this meeting, please email [email protected]. We are committed to providing resources and facilitating dialogue centered on racism, discriminiation, and community support. To ensure we meet the needs of our community, please utilize this survey to provide topics of interest for virtual resources and programs. Further, if you would like to learn more about ways you can actively support diversity, equity, and inclusion within Elliott, please contact us at [email protected]. The Office for Diversity Equity and Community Engagement (ODECE) and university partners will begin hosting events next week for the GW community to come together to process, work on healing, learn from one another, and move towards action.

To our Black students, faculty, staff, and alumni, we echo our colleagues in the ODECE and affirm that you matter, you are more than enough, and you are not alone! Assistant Dean Jonathan Walker will be hosting an additional virtual gathering space for Elliott’s Black community on Wednesday, June 3 at 5:00 pm ET. If you are unable to attend, know that you can reach out directly by emailing [email protected].

Our institutional resources are also available virtually to our community, including: Multicultural Student Services Center (MSSC), Counseling and Psychological Services, Office for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement (ODECE), Advocacy & Support, Student Affairs, Human Resources, and Faculty Affairs.

As June marks the beginning of PRIDE month nationally, it is most salient to remember and uplift the contributions of Black and Brown trans leaders who served as incredible catalysts for LGBTQ political activism through the Stonewall Riots this time in 1969. While PRIDE will show up differently this year, we will celebrate our LGBTQ community through virtual opportunities later this month.

During these challenging times, let’s continue to check on each other, be gentle, and most importantly, take good care of ourselves.

We are united in solidarity.

2019 PPIA Public Service Weekend

Group of Public Service Weekend attendees pose on the Elliott School roof in front of the Washington Monument

Group photo of PPIA public service weekend attendees

Jonathan Walker addresses the PPIA service weekend attendees

Diversity Statement

The United States of America is projected to be a “majority-minority” country by the year 2050 or sooner. Diversity and social mobility are among our country’s greatest assets in engaging the rest of the world. It is imperative, therefore, that international affairs institutions of the United States reflect the diversity of America. The Elliott School of International Affairs is committed to reflecting this diversity.

We believe this diversity enriches the educational experience for students and faculty alike. We are committed to ensuring that every student, faculty, and staff member has a chance to reach their full professional potential, do great work, and be a fully enfranchised member of the Elliott School community.

We seek not only to reflect American society, but also to serve as a model for proactively engaging with difference, with respect, dignity, openness, and acceptance, recognizing that diversity reflects the society in which we live and can be its greatest strength.

Fostering a welcoming and inclusive community is a core value of the Elliott School. To this end, we are committed to attracting and supporting students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and experiences, for example, based on race, gender, socio-economic status, age, sexual orientation and identity, religion, nationality, culture, ideas (including political perspectives), and methods.

We are especially committed to increasing the representation and inclusion of those who have been historically excluded from participating in higher education, and in the US international affairs community in particular. The inclusion of these underrepresented groups is necessary: 1) to ensure the US international affairs community remains connected to the American public it serves, 2) to ensure that we are best positioned to understand and resolve the most pressing challenges facing the interconnected world today, and 3) to facilitate a new generation of leaders within the discipline of international affairs who understand the importance of equity, respect, inclusion, and civil discourse among diverse parties.

How to Report a Bias-Related Act

Diversity and inclusion are crucial to an educational institution's pursuit of excellence in learning, research, and service. We strive to build a community of respect for all community members.

Make a Report