Warm Welcome!
Our team is pleased to be a part of a collective, University-wide commitment that celebrates our diversity and is vigorously engaged in strengthening our mutual capacities to create an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment. - Nicole Webster, Associate Dean
Alumni Spotlight: Faheemah Mustafaa
Faheemah Mustafaa is an assistant professor of education in Learning and Mind Sciences at the University of California, Davis. A proud Philadelphia native and first-generation college graduate, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Biobehavioral Health from Penn State in 2005, along with a minor in Psychology.
Scholarship Opportunities
Paying for your college education can be intimidating and in some cases, even confusing. There are many scholarships that benefit those with diverse backgrounds. Check out our scholarship resources to see if any of these additional aid options can help your pursuit of higher education.
Leadership Council
The mission of the HHD Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leadership Council is to help shape college-level efforts and initiatives to achieve strategic objectives in diversity, equity, and inclusion and to provide a forum for exchange of ideas among key constituents working to advance these goals throughout the college.
My Story: Julia Schiavone
The funny thing is that I had no idea what a “First-Generation Student” was until I was in graduate school. I hope that my story raises awareness that not all college students have the same support and experience from their parents or families. Those experiences are how we are shaped.
Diversity-Focused Student Organizations
Diversity-Focused Student Organizations
The College of Health and Human Development is proud to host several organizations of interest, some of them with a focus and intent on increasing the support and success of diverse student populations.
Get Involved
Student, Staff, & Faculty Resources
Student, Staff, & Faculty Resources
HHD is proud to support students, staff, and faculty with a myriad of resources to encourage best DEIB practices. It is a priority of our college to be mindful of how our diversity and inclusion initiatives affect all parts of community.
Browse Resources
Community Demographics
Community Demographics
In order to better understand where we are and how we can improve, the University maintains various demographical data on faculty, staff, and students.
View Our Demographics
Department Diversity & Inclusion Statements
Department Diversity & Inclusion Statements
To foster an inclusive climate within the college, each department has a diversity and inclusion committee, comprised of faculty, staff, and students. We encourage you to review the statements from the departments on fostering diversity.
Review StatementsOur Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
The College of Health and Human Development embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values in both its mission and vision. Our goal is to empower a diverse generation of leaders and scholars who promote human health, development, and quality of life throughout the lifespan.
Through teaching, research, and outreach programs, we strive to communicate the importance of diversity to both College and community members. Diversity is broadly defined by the College as "human differences" including differences in age, social class, disability, race, ethnicity, immigrant status, gender, gender expression, religion, veteran status, and sexual orientation.
Our Mission & Vision
The Office for Diversity and Inclusion promotes the core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion to cultivate a welcoming climate for the College of Health and Human Development's students, faculty, and staff through direct student and administrative services, programming, and consultation.
A thriving community where civility, respect, and inclusion are experienced by all members and the core values of diversity and equity are expressed broadly in our scholarly pursuits, educational practices, and aspirations to be engaged and contributing global citizens.
History
The Office for Diversity and Inclusion was originally named the Office for Minority Affairs and then renamed the Office for Diversity Enhancement. The office was founded in 1986, making it among one of the first offices dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Penn State University Park. Since our inception, we have created initiatives to support the students, faculty, and staff in the College of Health and Human Development.
Penn State Statement of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Office for Diversity and Inclusion in the College of Health and Human Development fully supports Penn State's Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.
At Penn State:
- We will foster and maintain a safe environment of respect and inclusion for faculty, staff, students, and members of the communities we serve.
- We will educate our faculty, staff, and students to be social justice advocates, creatively providing curricula, programs, and environments that reflect the diversity of our communities, and elevate cultural awareness.
- We will ensure fair and inclusive access to our facilities, programs, resources, and services, and ensure that all of our policies and practices are inclusive and equitable.
- We will advance and build our workforce by assessing hiring practices and performance review procedures to attract, retain, and develop talented faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.
- We will address intergroup disparities in areas such as representation, retention, learning outcomes, and graduation rates.
