Mission & DEI Statement

Hartford International University for Religion & Peace is an educational institution where a consciousness of God is cultivated and shared. We believe strong religious institutions and healthy communities of faith are necessary to the well being of individuals and society. We affirm the goodness of religious differences that exist in the world and we support faithful living in a pluralistic and multi-faith environment. We are committed to the pursuit of knowledge and academic excellence, to the understanding of religion and spirituality as they are lived out in daily life, to the exploration of issues of gender, race and class, and to education that integrates the many dimensions of human experience.

Hartford International is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

After the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others, President Joel N. Lohr encouraged the Hartford International community in June 2020 to work with him and senior leaders to address how we as an organization—systemically—will deliver on our commitment to support racial justice and the Black Lives Matter movement.

President Lohr tasked the Hartford International’s Senior Leadership team with making recommendations to address systemic and historic racial inequities both internally and externally. The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees adopted several of these recommendations, including:

  • Hiring a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
    Lorraine Ryan, who has worked at Hartford International in various positions since 2007, was promoted to that position on July 30, 2020.
  • Establishing a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council
    The council had its first meeting on Sept. 17, 2020.  Members include:
    • Lorraine Ryan, Chair – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
    • Naseem Shaikh, Trustee
    • Jean Amos Lys, Trustee
    • Lucinda Mosher, Faculty Associate in Interfaith Studies

In its first meeting on Sept. 17, 2020, the council established an annual meeting schedule and began a review of the recommendations put forward by the Hartford International’s Senior Leadership Team. The council also agreed that the Hartford International’s website should include a section on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to serve as a clearinghouse for internal initiatives, news, resources, and upcoming events. The council is beginning to examine opportunities for structured dialogue on race and social justice, implement a process to respond to racial incidents at the Hartford International, as well as partner with and support other groups in Hartford working to further social justice. As the council begins to compile and analyze various data, diversity targets will be established and shared.

 

HIU Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Suggestions

Please use the form below if you have an idea/suggestion for the Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The form will be received and responded to by the DEI Officer.

Thank you for your commitment to DEI at HIU!

Name
We hope you will provide this information so we may contact you with questions and follow-up information.
Remember, if you answer yes, please provide your name and email information above.
CAPTCHA
1 + 2 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Join our mailing list

Keep up with all the latest happenings at Hartford International.