University of Washington

Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity

A passionate commitment to multiculturalism, student access, and academic achievement connects the fourteen units of the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity. Programs provide student services and promote curriculum, faculty and staff diversity. Most are located on or near the UW’s Seattle campus–some offer services in the city of Goldendale, and Skagit, Snohomish, and Yakima counties. A strong outreach component keeps OMA&D in touch with state and local high schools and community organizations.

The Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity offers programs that:

  • Help students grades 6-12 think about and prepare for college
  • Support academic excellence and undergraduate achievement
  • Encourage students to consider graduate and professional studies
  • Graduate future leaders and mentors from diverse backgrounds
  • Build a welcoming campus climate for students, faculty, and staff
  • Advocate, create and carry out campus diversity efforts
  • Engage with alumni and diverse communities

Spotlight Articles

Snoqualmie Indian Tribe Pledges $100K to Intellectual House

The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe has pledged $100,000 to support the design and construction of the University of Washington’s Intellectual House, a longhouse-style facility to be built on the UW Seattle campus that will serve Native American students, faculty, and staff.  The donation will be matched by the UW’s matching fund initiative, yielding a total of $200,000. Read more…

Herrera Joins OMA&D as New ECC Director

Marisa Herrera, formerly an assistant director of Undergraduate Admissions at Stanford, has joined the UW Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity (OMA&D) staff as the new director of the Ethnic Cultural Center (ECC)/Theatre, effective Dec. 15. Read more…

New Ethnic Cultural Center To Be Named In Honor of Dr. Samuel E. Kelly

The University of Washington Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity’s (OMA&D) new Ethnic Cultural Center (ECC) will be named in honor of the late Dr. Samuel E. Kelly, the founding vice president for the department and a pioneer for diversity on campus. The UW Board of Regents approved the naming of the center at its meeting on Jan. 12. Read more…

Peoples To Receive 2012 Odegaard Award

Gertrude Peoples, a special assistant with the University of Washington football program and the former director of the UW’s Student-Athlete Academic Services, is the 2012 recipient of the UW Charles E. Odegaard Award, Vice President for Minority Affairs and Vice Provost for Diversity Sheila Edwards Lange announced Monday.  Read more…

OMA&D Mourns Loss of Gordon Hirabayashi

The UW alumnus who opposed the federal government’s internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II has died at the age of 93. Hirabayashi was one of over 400 UW Nikkei students forced to leave campus in 1942. He was featured in this New York Times article.

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