Our hearts weigh heavy by the acts of racism that we have witnessed. The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, as well the national outcry in response remind us of the persistent injustice that threatens the lives of Black people across our country. We all have experienced fear and uncertainly because of COVID-19, however, the anger and trauma, fear and frustration felt by many — especially our black students, staff, and faculty — is profound.

We deplore these acts and want to be clear that there is no place for intolerance, hate, or racism in our Eccles School community. As a society, we must do better, and we know that working together, engaging in difficult conversations about race, and sharing resources will only strengthen our community. We welcome your ideas on ways to make our campus more welcoming and safe for everyone. Please share your thoughts with us here. We commit to doing our own research and educating ourselves on ways we can do better. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at our school and to a compassionate, equitable, and just society for everyone.

Empathy is one of our core values here at the Eccles School, and we recognize that many members of both our school community and our larger community are deeply impacted by these events. We know our campus partners are engaged in having a larger conversation to find answers, and we as an Eccles School community are committed to both engaging in that conversation and to amplifying the voices of those who are marginalized.

We have resources for our students to find the support they need through these challenging times. The Office for Student Inclusion strives to cultivate an inclusive environment through the development of student and community-focused initiatives. OSI is committed to ensuring all forms of diversity are understood and valued. Students can access support by emailing StudentInclusion@Eccles.Utah.edu. The University of Utah Counseling Center also has resources available. Please don’t suffer alone in silence.

We’re all in this together.

Taylor Randall,
Dean

Rachel Hayes,
Associate Dean, Faculty and Research

Mark Parker,
Associate Dean, Specialized Masters Programs

Brad Vierig,
Associate Dean, MBA Programs and Executive Education

Katie Abby,
Assistant Dean, Business Career Services and Corporate Outreach

Katie Amundsen,
Assistant Dean, Alumni Relations & Development

Elena Asparouhova,
Assistant Dean for Research and External Funding

Troy D’Ambrosio,
Assistant Dean; Executive Director of Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute

Reyn Gallacher,
Assistant Dean, Finance and Operations

Natalie Gochnour,
Assistant Dean; Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute

Al Landon,
Assistant Dean of Corporate Relations

Andrea Thomas,
Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Studies

Ruchi Watson,
Assistant Dean, Strategic Initiatives

Victoria Cabal,
Director of the Office for Student Inclusion and the First Ascent Scholars Program

Rich Kaufusi,
Program Director, Opportunity Scholars

Latu Kinikini,
Program Manager, Opportunity Scholars

Michelle Conley,
Program Manager, Eccles Summer Bridge Program; Campus Partner, One Refugee