Our diversity and inclusion commitment with CEO Action

Mount Mary University has pledged to advance diversity and inclusion on campus in partnership with CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™.

CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is a unique coalition of more than 850 CEOs of the world’s leading companies and organizations who have all agreed to take action to foster an environment where diverse experiences and perspectives are welcomed.

As a part of the pledge with CEO Action, Mount Mary has agreed to four commitments:

  1. Continue to cultivate a workplace that supports open dialogue on complex, and sometimes difficult, conversations about diversity and inclusion
  2. Implement and expand unconscious bias education
  3. Share best known—and unsuccessful— actions with CEO Action
  4. Create and share strategic inclusion and diversity plans with the Board of Directors

“Mount Mary is firmly committed to creating a learning and working environment that welcomes all,” said Mount Mary President, Christine Pharr, Ph.D. “By signing the CEO Action Pledge, I have indicated my support for Mount Mary’s continued promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the campus.”

In 2017, CEO Action created the Day of Understanding event for a conversation around unconscious bias in the workplace. Topics may include key D&I issues, such as race, gender and sexuality to help foster greater understanding and appreciation of differences. Organizations are invited to host their own discussions anytime during or around the month of February.

Mount Mary held its first Day of Understanding on campus on February 24, 2020. Faculty, staff and students joined in a meaningful discussion on diversity and inclusion, learning about blind spots and unconscious biases to foster a more inclusive campus climate.

“This Day of Understanding supports our Presidents Pledge to support equity and inclusion by focusing on creating a safe workplace environment for dialogue, mitigating unconscious bias and sharing best practices as well as unsuccessful ones,” said Inclusive Excellence Curriculum Specialist, Aza Baylor, Ph.D. “Our goal is to start building trust, expand our perspective and reinforce the power of inclusion.”

Community members are invited to take the “I Act On” pledge and commit to check biases, speak up for others and show up for all. A library of resources on diversity and inclusion can be found at www.ceoaction.com.