Loyola Marymount University has been named a recipient of the 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
“I’m honored that LMU received this recognition from Insight Into Diversity,” said Emelyn A. dela Peña, Ed.D., LMU vice president for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “This recognition reflects the collective commitment and hard work of our students, staff, and faculty. We couldn’t have done this without the unwavering support and collaboration across LMU. It’s a testament to our shared commitment to inclusive excellence and igniting a brighter world together.” LMU will be featured in the November/December 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity, alongside 113 peer institutions also named HEED Award winners.
LMU’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts are woven into the institution’s mission, values, and identity. Further, LMU’s 2021-26 strategic plan, “Creating the World We Want to Live In,” integrates DEI into the entire LMU community, creating a more equitable and inclusive institutional climate, with the goal of contributing to a more just society.
Cura personalis — care for the whole person — is a core tenet of educating students at LMU and cultivating a new generation of ethical leaders is one of the university’s fundamental goals. LMU’s student programs include The Learning Community, Ethnic and Intercultural Services, Academic Community of Excellence, and many others. LMU aims to send graduates out into the world who are discerning and courageous individuals who pursue lives of meaning and purpose. They value diversity and inclusion and possess an exceptional capacity and commitment to be agents of reconciliation and justice.
The service of faith and the promotion of justice also extends to faculty, staff, and leadership. For the LMU community to thrive, it needs policies, an organizational culture, and a climate that attracts, hires, and retains a diverse staff and faculty from historically underrepresented and marginalized groups. This enhances the educational goals of the university, aligns with its strategic objectives, and provides diverse perspectives that contribute to the overall quality of the institution.
“The HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — leadership support for diversity, campus culture and climate, supplier diversity, and many other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of Insight Into Diversity magazine. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”