Welcome to the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. At UAB, we are committed to creating an environment that can serve as a model for the kind of society we are striving to build — one of inclusion, fairness, civility, and mutual respect. That’s why we are proud that not only does The Princeton Review consistently rank us among the most diverse universities in the nation, so do our students.
But don’t take our word, ask our students who represent over 90 countries and lead over 180 campus organizations, including more than 120 interest groups. Through continuous learning, we are preparing our students to be tomorrow’s global leaders.
Inspired by Equity and Inclusive Excellence, Every Day.
- Dr. Paulette Patterson Dilworth
Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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Read more about Dr. Paulette Patterson Dilworth
Dr. Paulette Patterson Dilworth was named Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in October 2015. Prior to joining UAB, she was faculty and assistant vice president for access and community initiatives at Auburn University and associate professor of curriculum studies in the School of Education at Indiana University-Bloomington. Besides a strong affinity for art and music, Dr. Dilworth has accumulated more than 30 years of experience in higher education, diversity education consulting and training, recruitment, retention, research, teaching and outreach.
Dr. Dilworth has devoted her professional career and much of her personal life to exploring issues of access, civic engagement, equity and community building. Dilworth earned a Ph.D. in educational studies from Emory University in Atlanta. Before moving to Indiana University in 2000, she worked at Emory University in the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs as Director of Minority Affairs and Assistant Director of Equal Opportunity Programs.
Active in professional, civic and higher-education organizations, Dr. Dilworth is past Chair of the Executive Board of the College and University Faculty Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies. More recently, she served as the associate editor of Theory and Research in Social Education and has chaired the Research Focused on Social Studies SIG of the American Education Research Association. She has served as the Equity Chair for Division B—Curriculum Studies and is a past member of the Equity Council of the American Education Research Association and past Vice President of the Indiana Council for the Social Studies. She was appointed by the mayor of the city of Bloomington to serve on the Commission on the Status of Black Males. She is a member of the Executive Board of the Shiloh Community Restoration Foundation, Inc. an organization committed to the restoration of one of the original Rosenwald Schools and serves as chair of the Finance Committee. She is also the Immediate Past President of the Dream Day Foundation Advisory Board. Dr. Dilworth is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a public service sorority and the Links, Inc., a philanthropic organization.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Dilworth has been recognized with several awards for her contributions to research, teaching and service to education, including the National Council for Social Studies Exemplary Research Award, the Kipchoge Kirkland Teaching for Social Justice Award and the Emory University Outstanding Contributions and Service to the University Award. She is author or coauthor of numerous research publications and has been involved as an editor, consultant, reviewer or contributor in many other print and electronic publishing projects.
Our Mission
Our mission is to champion equity and inclusion and, in particular, to advocate for inclusive excellence and equity so that UAB students, faculty, staff, community partners and friends can flourish and excel. Our mission is inspired by what we value, what we learn from research and what we teach and share with the world. It is our goal to inspire our people to take a courageous step to inspire equity and inclusive excellence throughout our state, nation, and the world, every day.
Our Vision
UAB Inspiring Equity and Inclusive Excellence, Every Day.
Definitions
Diversity: A defining feature of Alabama's past, present, and future; refers to the variety of personal experiences, values, and world views that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geographic region, and more.
Equity: The guarantee of fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all students, faculty, and staff in every stage of UAB's education and career development, while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of marginalized groups.
Inclusion: The act of creating environments in which any individual or group can feel welcome, respected, supported, and valued. An inclusive climate embraces differences and offers respect in words and actions so that all people can fully participate in the University's opportunities.
The 2021 Year In Review
The 2021 Year in Review provides a window into how we as individuals, teams, and departments have challenged assumptions and taken action to help ensure a more equitable academic community for all.
This report highlights critical efforts in 2021 to:
• Continue standing on the promise of intentional inclusive excellence
• Enhance the campus climate and sense of belonging
• Reach diverse communities
• Strengthen public communication
• Deliver other valuable resources and services
Facts & Figures
Why choose to study or work at UAB? There are many answers. UAB is a dynamic institution with a growing and diverse student body, ambitious academic programs, a vibrant urban setting, and local and global outreach. Check out a selection of fun facts and surprising figures from across our campus.