Welcome to HD: HPER Diversity
Message From the Director
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Thank you for visiting HD; the HPER Diversity website. My name
is Willis Cheaney, Director for Minority Recruitment, Retention,
and Outreach. I am excited for this opportunity to welcome
you to HPER’s visible pledge to a diverse and engaged community.
I deeply believe that true diversity and true opportunity mean
more than a symbolic effort; they require a genuine commitment
to significant representation of currently under-represented groups. A
diverse student body is not only a matter of equity; it is also
a matter of sound educational policy. My vision of diversity
here at HPER is to harness the energy and innovation of our faculty,
staff and students in such a way that those efforts work in harmony
to create an inclusive academic environment.
Yes, the cultural experiences of students have a significant impact
on how they respond to classroom environments but real societal
growth is achieved when individuals demonstrate a desire to understand
how culture shapes learning. So reach out to those who do
not look like you. Engage in conversations with our students
and faculty about the importance of diversity and make the School
of HPER an example of a rich and inclusive community.
