Dear AU Community and Friends,

It is my honor and privilege to welcome you on behalf of the Office of Inclusive Excellence. As Vice President of Inclusive Excellence, I am delighted to connect with each of you as we continue our journey toward fostering a community where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered.

The Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE)
works to create a strong community by valuing and engaging the unique perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences of our students, faculty, and staff to cultivate collaboration, innovation, and leadership on campus and beyond. Our office also addresses issues of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct to ensure compliance with local and federal civil rights laws. We aim to live out our values of inclusive excellence by leading with conviction, modeling compassion, and inspiring efforts that build a better world for all of us.

AU is built on the belief that inclusive excellence strengthens our community, drives innovation, and prepares us to thrive in our global world. We celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences that each of you brings to our campus community. By championing inclusion, access, and belonging, we strive to create an environment where every voice is heard, and every person can thrive.

Whether you are new to AU, a passionate member of our community, a connected alum or friend, your commitment to our shared values is what makes us stronger. Together, we can build a culture that not only embraces inclusive excellence but also actively works to remove barriers and create opportunities for all.

I encourage you to engage in our initiatives, participate in upcoming events, and share your ideas for making AU even more inclusive. Your input is invaluable, and your actions contribute to positive changes for our university and beyond.

Thank you for being part of our community and for your dedication to making this a welcoming place. I look forward to supporting and serving alongside each of you as we continue to grow and lead by example.

Let’s continue to learn and move forward together,

Nkenge Friday

Vice President of Inclusive Excellence