Diversity and Inclusion

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement

The Department of History shares a deep and sustained commitment to an equitable, inclusive, and diverse environment. We believe that a diverse community of faculty, staff, and students, engaged in the study of the past, learning and wielding a breadth of methodologies and skills, contributes to the university, the state, and our profession in profound and meaningful ways.

In the past, the field and profession of history operated in ways that have deepened systemic racism and other forms of oppression. Always shaped by the social, cultural, economic, religious, and political contexts of their day, historians have interpreted the past in ways that ignored particular subjects, questions, methodologies, sources, and voices. This has resulted in the production of histories that support the maintenance of social hierarchies, political disenfranchisement, economic inequities, religious persecution, and cultural erasure. As historians, we acknowledge our profession's past and its power to shape modern narratives, viewpoints, and lived realities. We commit to exploring histories that bring forth a variety of diverse perspectives and experiences and that contribute to a critical engagement with contemporary society.   

While there are many ways to do this work, we believe that diversifying our faculty, staff, and students is critical to our mission as historians. Our department pledges to prioritize strategies and programs that will enhance the heterogeneity of our community. When diverse, historically marginalized voices are present, we are best able to engage in the collective work of scholarship, education, community engagement, and administration.  

We recognize that while our department values equity, diversity, and inclusion, we must also put these values into action. We oppose all forms of violence against marginalized peoples. We affirm the right of all individuals to a campus that is safe and accessible. We call on all members of the university community to commit to eradicating all systems of oppression that deny people access, dignity, and equal participation in society.