Diverse & Inclusive Campus

Creating a more diverse and inclusive campus is one of eight presidential priorities that are linked to and aligned with Towson University’s strategic plan. These eight priorities will help us build a stronger foundation for Towson University’s promising future. 

Meet Dr. Leah Cox, Vice President for Inclusion and Institutional Equity 

Leah Cox is Towson University’s first vice president of inclusion and institutional equity. In this senior leadership position, she is leading TU’s Office for Inclusion and Institutional Equity, the university’s diversity and compliance office, and serving as a key adviser to the senior leadership team as a member of the President’s Cabinet.

 Learn about the Office of Inclusion & Institutional Equity

Diversity Strategic Plan

A More Inclusive TU: Advancing Equity and Diversity (2020–25), is firmly grounded in the premise that TU’s ongoing success depends on our capacity to shift perspectives and approaches and strategically place diversity, equity and inclusion at the core of our mission.

Learn about the Diversity Strategic Plan

Goals and Accomplishments

Fall 2019 Updates

• Towson University began the first phase of the Chosen/Preferred Name Process for the campus with nearly 200 requests already being processed.
• The Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity has developed a new position with a focus on hate/bias prevention and awareness.
• In partnership with the Office of the Provost, the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity have opened two new temporary spaces to accommodate and support students, faculty, and staff in reflection and meditation while on campus.
• The Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity and the Office of the Provost won a Campus Innovation Grant from the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC).
• Towson University took part in the annual Baltimore Pride Festival 2019. Our volunteers shared resources, networked and engaged with approximately 900 attendees, including alumni, prospective students and current students.
• The Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity continues to provide Allyship trainings, as of fall 2019, five trainings were completed for 31 students, faculty and staff.
• Intergroup Dialogue at TU now reflects three levels which provide intensive training and certification to all TU faculty and staff. During the fall 2019 term there were five IGD Trainings that included 63 faculty and staff.
• Together, the Office of the Provost and the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity have provided 10 Inclusive Faculty Search and Hire Trainings to 327 faculty across all colleges to assist the search and hire process with tools that address implicit bias.
• The Jewish Faculty and Staff Affinity Group was fully established making it the sixth affinity group at TU.

Spring 2019 Update 

• The second annual “Courageous Conversations” conference was held in fall 2018 to encourage dialogue on creating Models of Equity at TU.
• For the past three years, the monthly Multiculturalism in Action Brown Bag Series has been offered for students, faculty and staff, highlighting research on diversity and social justice.
• Engaged in ongoing work on goals identified in the Diversity Initiatives Progress Report.
• Organized training and educational workshops mandated by the NCAA for Sexual Assault Prevention and offered to all TU athletes in fall 2018 and spring 2019.
• Received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women focused on education and training to prevent sexual assault and violence at Baltimore area colleges.