The office of the university diversity officer
The university diversity officer (UDO) works to position the 窪蹋勛圖厙 as a leader of institutional diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) and guides University-wide, high-level DEIB efforts.
The Office of the UDO serves the tri-campus community and supports the University’s vision to educate a diverse student body to become responsible global citizens and future leaders through a challenging learning environment informed by cutting-edge scholarship. We believe that it is by leveraging the talents and skills of students, faculty and staff who come to us with a diversity of views and lived experiences that we will be able to meet the complex needs of our state, our nation and the world. The UDO works collaboratively with and serves as a resource for the 窪蹋勛圖厙 campuses, schools, colleges and administrative units, as they contribute to and assess their work toward the 窪蹋勛圖厙s goals for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Role of the UDO Office
The 窪蹋勛圖厙s DEIB efforts are guided by the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Diversity Blueprint. The Diversity Blueprint outlines a set of high-level, aspirational goals for our tri-campus community.
University-wide Diversity Councils
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Councils (listed below) advise and support the University Diversity Officer (UDO) and work to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to excellence at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 campuses.
- DEI Leads Council
- Staff DEI Council
- Student & Student-Facing DEI Council
- Centers DEI Council
DEIB Seed Grants support projects for institutional transformation across the 窪蹋勛圖厙s tri-campus community that align with the goals of the .
The University Diversity Officer is temporarily pausing the Diversity and Inclusion Seed Grant Program through the 2025-2026 academic year. The funds originally designated for diversity and inclusion seed grants will be reallocated to support initiatives addressing recommendations from the 2025 Campus Climate Survey.
Affinity groups at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 help staff and faculty build community and create networks within the 窪蹋勛圖厙 community.
Cultivating Community: Anti-racism and DEI&B in the Workplace
Cultivating Community at 窪蹋勛圖厙: Anti-Racism and DEI&B in the Workplace is a baseline training on a range of equity-related topics such as racism, disability and accessibility, and LGBTQ+ identities, highlighting how these issues affect 窪蹋勛圖厙 colleagues and students. This course is required for staff, faculty and other academic personnel.
OMA&Ds educational offerings help 窪蹋勛圖厙 faculty and staff engage in DEIB education for self-growth, awareness, and to support more effective engagement with students, faculty and staff. These offerings are intended to explore DEIB issues from an entry level.
窪蹋勛圖厙 HR offers DEIB courses through to encourage employees to engage in and advance the conversation on DEIB.
The Odegaard Award honors a member of our community whose leadership sustains the former 窪蹋勛圖厙 presidents distinguished work on behalf of diversity at the 窪蹋勛圖厙.
The Spark Award recognizes the accomplishments of a recent 窪蹋勛圖厙 graduate who made significant DEI contributions during their time as a student and continues to do so post-graduation.
As the 窪蹋勛圖厙s signature event to support diversity, equity and inclusion, Celebration showcases inspiring community leadership, academic excellence and our remarkable students.
MLK Day and Black History Month Spotlights
To celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to celebrate Black History Month, the UDOs office selects and honors two 窪蹋勛圖厙 community members for their commitment to inclusion on the 窪蹋勛圖厙 campus in Seattle.
The Distinguished Staff Awards recognize individuals and teams that exemplify 窪蹋勛圖厙 staff excellence in five categories, including DEI.
Board of Regents DEI Advisory Committee
The UDO staffs and works closely with the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Board of Regents DEI Advisory Committee. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee strives to achieve a truly inclusive and equitable environment for learning, research, service and procurement/contracting opportunities.泭 The Advisory Committee works towards this goal through the following actions:
- ALIGNMENT of board action with university-wide goals and objectives泭
- AMPLIFYING support for presidential and university-wide initiatives supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion for students, faculty, staff and procurement/contracting
- ACCELERATING university action through shared accountability and governance
Race & Equity Initiative Advisory Committee
The Race & Equity Initiative Advisory Committee is co-chaired by University Diversity Officer Rickey Hall and Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs Ed Taylor and is composed of leadership from each of the 窪蹋勛圖厙 campuses. The committee ensures that the Initiatives work plan aligns with the goals of the 202226
The VP/UDO is Executive Sponsor of the 2025 Campus Climate Implementation Committee, which is charged with processing survey result reports and guiding action items and leadership response.
Anti-racist Leadership Institute
Due to recent reductions in staffing and financial resource, the institute is currently on hiatus. We will re-evaluate our capacity to host a successful program should conditions improve in the future.
窪蹋勛圖厙 Us

Rickey Hall
Rickey Hall is the 窪蹋勛圖厙s eighth vice president for minority affairs and diversity and university diversity officer. As the university diversity officer, Hall works collaboratively with and serves as a resource for 窪蹋勛圖厙 leadership and 窪蹋勛圖厙 campuses, schools, colleges and administrative units as they establish, coordinate and assess their contributions to institutional diversity goals. Hall also leads the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D), which administers programs that broaden college access, support student success and enhance diversity-related teaching and learning across campus.
Inclusion at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 – for employees
The 窪蹋勛圖厙 is dedicated to being an inclusive environment that is welcoming to all. You are joining a community that is made up of those with a broad range of backgrounds, lived experiences, values and viewpoints. We value being exposed to new experiences and ideas that challenge us, and help us to learn, grow and become prepared to contribute to our thriving community.
We recognize that the world is a complex place. When we disagree, it is important that we do so with empathy and respect for each others humanity. 窪蹋勛圖厙 policies prohibit discriminatory harassment of all kinds, including racist, sex- or gender-based, antisemitic, Islamophobic, ableist and other discriminatory harassment. It is our goal that everyone in our community feels welcomed and connected.
WE ALL BELONG HERE
Inclusion at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 – for students
The 窪蹋勛圖厙 is dedicated to being an inclusive environment that is welcoming to those with a broad range of backgrounds, lived experiences, values and viewpoints. You are here because you have demonstrated through your achievements, struggles and lived experiences that you have important perspectives to offer our community. Being exposed to new experiences and ideas that challenge us helps us to learn, grow and become prepared to contribute to our thriving democracy.
The world is a complex place. When we disagree, it is important that we do so with empathy and respect for each others humanity. The 窪蹋勛圖厙 Student Code of Conduct prohibits discriminatory harassment of all kinds, including racist, sex- or gender-based, antisemitic, Islamophobic, ableist and other discriminatory harassment. It is our goal that everyone in our community feels welcomed and connected.
WE ALL BELONG HERE
Contact University Diversity Officer
Phone: (206) 543-2441
Central UDO Team
Julia Ceraolo
Program Operations Specialist
