Statement of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

The School of Geography, Development & Environment is committed to fostering inclusive learning environments that embrace the diversity of experiences and interests represented in our communities and the broader world. Aligned with the University of Arizona mission, we see diversity, equity, and inclusion not simply as desirable goals, but as essential to excellence in teaching and scholarship. Our School comprises faculty, students, and staff from a wide range of racial and ethnic identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, health statuses, abilities, ages, nationalities, immigration standing, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds. 

We recognize that we live in a world of systemic inequalities, oppressions, and exclusions as well as polarized worldviews. Therefore, the School seeks to promote open and critical dialogue and practices aimed at dismantling past and present injustices and addressing the pressing social and environmental challenges of our time. To ensure that all members of the SGDE community thrive, we condemn expressions of discrimination and hate. We also support pedagogies that seek to understand and challenge unconscious bias in its multiple manifestations in the classroom, in online learning spaces, on campus, and in the community. 

The School of Geography, Development & Environment commits to advancing this mission in several ways including but not limited to: 

  • Expanding the inclusion of historically underrepresented groups in the School, the discipline and profession of geography, and academia at large. 

  • Offering a wide array of courses that engage centrally with diverse cultures and values and equity concerns. 

  • Producing research that addresses issues of social and environmental justice in a diverse range of communities located domestically and internationally. 

  • Advancing publicly engaged scholarship and ethical research practices. 

  • Integrating diversity training into the School’s operations and inclusive pedagogical approaches into classrooms to ensure that all students can flourish.  

The School has recently established the Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to coordinate work towards these goals in the areas of teaching, research, institutional service, and community engagement.