"There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." Revelation 7:9

“My time at Eastern was exciting to say the least! Being an international student from Ghana, West Africa, without my immediate family in the same geographical location, I was blessed with whole, supportive, and deep friendships (with both professors and students) which kept me going and also deepened my understanding of what it means to be a true friend like Christ is to us.”

Maame Yankah '13

Diversity, Equity, & Belonging Team Mission

The mission of the Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Team is to give form and substance to relevant strategies to advance diversity and inclusion at Eastern University, thereby reflecting God’s witness in Jesus Christ and the biblical mandates to love others, offer hospitality, pursue justice, and live as agents of reconciliation.

“The thing I appreciated the most about Eastern was the way the professors lived and taught around the University pillars of faith, reason, and justice. I also appreciated the diversity of the Eastern student body and teaching staff. I met a lot of great people with a lot of interesting things to say—each one teaching me to see the world a little differently.”

James Mast '09, MA '16

Diversity, Equity, & Belonging Imperatives

  • Eastern University’s identity as a Christian university is manifested most effectively through a vibrant, diverse community of students, faculty, staff, and leaders. (Revelation 7:9 )
  • Institutions that do not commit to comprehensive diversity engagement — cultural, curricular, pedagogical, social, spiritual, structural, symbolic, workforce, etc. — will fail to adequately prepare students with the capacities required to thrive in the twenty-first century. (Association of American Colleges and Universities, “Board Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Excellence, 2013 )
  • Across universities, the gap between the diversity of a faculty and its students has been shown to impact student retention.
  • Shifting demographics continue to increase racial and ethnic diversity in our state, region, and the United States.