As many of you know, I will be departing UNT on September 3rd for my first-ever corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership role. I came to UNT in 2016 as the inaugural Director of Diversity & Inclusion, with responsibility for supervising the Multicultural Center and Pride Alliance; creating a comprehensive learning and development portfolio; restructuring the Equity & Diversity Conference; creating strategic partnerships for the division; and leading UNT’s first-ever Campus Inclusion Climate Survey.

Our Inclusion, Equity, and Community Building series (IECB), began as a partnership with Housing and Residence Life, provided integral foundational awareness for members of our Diversity and Inclusion Councils and other change agents across the institution. The hiring of Assistant Director Teresita Hurtado Ramos expanded our programming capacity through Unlikely Allies in the Academy, as well as competencies such as organizational development and team building through an equity and inclusion lens.

Employee resource groups (ERGs) were expanded and restructured for a focus on employee, student, and alumni and community engagement and development. The Campus Inclusion Climate Survey earned a UNT student a brand-new vehicle as a participation incentive in partnership with Honda of Denton. The Equity & Diversity Conference saw its evolution into a sponsor-partner opportunity with companies such as Peterbilt, Sally Beauty, Fidelity Investments, Michaels, Hilti, and Comerica.

My experience at UNT has not only yielded life-long friendships and an appreciation for the intricacies and complexities of a Tier One research institution, but prepared me to become a better change agent, accomplice, and catalyst for progress. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve and grow with you. I hope my legacy will be the creation of even more change agents across UNT who move the institution towards one of intentional inclusion, accountability, and a commitment to support UNT’s ever-more diverse student population. I also hope we retain minoritized employees due to an inclusive culture that values their contributions.

To Progress,
Shani Barrax Moore