Diversity Leadership Team

Mission of the Diversity Leadership Team

The mission of the Diversity Leadership Team is to facilitate and promote the organization of activities, events, and programs that support diversity. The Diversity Leadership Team endorses a broad definition of diversity, defined by differences in race, culture, religion, mental or physical abilities, heritage, age, gender, sexual orientation, or other characteristics.

The roots of the Diversity Leadership Team date back to the 2002 establishment of the Gladstone Initiatives for Women program. This program, focused on gender equity in academia, was fueled by transforming visits from high impact speakers including Drs. Virginia Valian and Nancy Hopkins and led to the formation of the Gladstone Distinguished Visiting Scholars Program. These programs, some of which were developed in collaboration with UCSF Center for Gender Equity (CGE), were soon extended to address broader issues in diversity. Following the inspiring visits of Drs. Haile Debas and Joycelyn Elders in 2004, enthusiastic interest grew within Gladstone to create additional programs focused on minority and cultural diversity. Soon thereafter, a Community Student Outreach Committee was established to specifically address a means to excite students (particularly those from underrepresented races/ethnicities) and spark their interest in biomedical science.

The Diversity Leadership Team was established in 2005 to consolidate and coordinate the efforts of the Gladstone Distinguished Visiting Scholar Committee, the Gladstone Initiatives for Women program, the Community Student Outreach, and similar efforts directed towards issues of diversity within the institute. Many members of the Leadership Team have been involved in previous Gladstone programs related to equity and diversity while others are newly pursuing their desire to become more involved in these efforts.