Division of Community & Inclusivity

The mission of the College to "provide an education that empowers students to use their hearts, minds and hands to meet personal, professional and global challenges and to lead purposeful lives of responsibility, leadership, service and civic engagement is achieved primarily through education and building a campus culture in alignment with that mission.

The vice president for community and inclusivity (VPCI) is responsible for fostering the well-being of every member of the Hood community and a healthy, safe, empowering and inclusive campus climate. Additionally, the VPCI:

• ensures that processes, policies and strategic priorities reinforce and strengthen the College's overall commitment to the well-being of all members of the Hood Community
• identifies and proposes solutions to obstacles (systematic or singular) that prevent individual growth and well-being

Tammi Simpson, J.D. joined Hood College on August 2, 2021, as the College's first vice president for community and inclusivity.

2021-22 Highlights

Hood College continues to actively encourage culturally enriching experiences for the entire student body. Diversity programs, including student organization dialogues, such as the Diversity Coalition’s April 2022 Liberation Weekend, a weekend that was created 28 years ago by the Black Student Union and includes presentations, programming and events  designed and implemented to promote cross-cultural dialogue and increase awareness and understanding among student organizations and the campus community. Diversity training is an integral part of the week-long training for Resident Assistants and Peer Mentor Leaders and is included in fall and spring orientations for new first-year and transfer students. Diversity presentations to new students are co-facilitated by faculty, staff and student leaders. New students are provided with a list of campus resources and introduced to language usage, anti-bullying guidelines, policy on bias incidents, and other support resources, such as the Hood College Pledge established by the Student Government Association in 2018-19. Throughout the year, new and returning students are asked to reflect on these standards.  

Collaboration with other offices, student organizations and academic departments is key in sponsoring heritage/history months; educational, social and cultural programs; fashion and talent shows; musical performances and special trips. The Division of Community and Inclusivity, the Office of Student Life, the Office of Student Success, and the Office of Residence Life, work collaboratively to support programs and activities sponsored by multicultural organizations and the veteran student organization throughout the year. Some examples include Hispanic Heritage Month, the Iftar dinner, International Education Week, Martin Luther King, Jr Day programming and Black History Month celebration and programming. 

On an annual basis, the Office of Wellness, Campus Safety, and several local organizations partner to celebrate World AIDS Day and student organizations such as the Queer Student Union co-sponsor a Safe Sex Carnival that highlights the impact of HIV on different cultural populations. The Division of Community and Inclusivity hosted the first ever Sex Week to promote discussion and dialogue to create awareness and a healthy sexual culture. Further, a Diversity Leadership Recognition Ceremony was held to recognize student leaders from all underrepresented populations.