Among the many Zags who gathered for a reunion recently were several from the Class of 1999. Flash back a few years and it was several student leaders within this senior class who inspired their fellow classmates to establish “The Class of 1999 Diversity Endowment.” Gift by gift, they began building the fund, made up mostly of contributions of less than $100. Today the fund annually produces just under $2,000 for GU’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion to provide workshops for students, faculty and staff, to host visiting speakers and other programming. For example, just this last academic year 53 faculty representing 16 academic disciplines across the six professional schools as well as the College of Arts and Sciences participated in a two-day workshop focused on best practices for inclusive classrooms & departments. A portion of the endowment funds were used to help underwrite consulting fees, instructional materials, faculty stipends and nourishment/refreshments.
Join in the celebration of all Zags who return for reunions, including this great story and the (two-decades) long list of contributions made by the Class of 1999. Here’s to the next 20-years and the many ways the Class of 1999 Diversity Endowment will shape the communities of GU.