The mission of the office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Inclusion is more than an idea at Juniata.
is to empower all members of the Juniata College community to promote equity, embrace diversity, and strive to create an inclusive campus environment. We collaboratively seek to apply the most promising practices to create a campus where all visitors and every member of our community is treated with dignity and respect regardless of ability, age, gender, identity, national origin, orientation, or race. Our goal is to create and maintain a campus where civil discourse and proactive strategies are normative behaviors used to enhance our ability to communicate across all forms of difference.
Nearly a third of our students are first in their family to go to college.
Inclusion is central to our mission.
For more information, please contact: Marita Gilbert, Ph.D.
In 2015, Juniata received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from Insight into Diversity magazine in recognition for our level of achievement and intensity of commitment in regard to broadening diversity and inclusion on campus.
Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusive Excellence 814-641-3173 gilberm@juniata.edu
Cynthia Merriwether-deVries, Ph.D. Assistant Director of the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Associate Professor of Sociology 814-641-3678 devries@juniata.edu
Unity House 1700 Moore St. Huntingdon, PA 16652 www.juniata.edu/diversity
Juniata College is a welcoming campus for all. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Space: Unity House
PLEXUS
Shared by EDI and Campus Ministry,
The word “plexus” is taken from the Latin plectere, which means a network of interwoven
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and
the Unity House provides a welcoming
parts. At Juniata, Plexus is a support network comprised of faculty, peer mentors, and
Inclusion (EDI) presents numerous
meeting and gathering space for student
staff who help to enrich students’ experiences by assisting in their academic and social
engaging and thought-provoking speakers
organizations as well as an interfaith
transition to college and the surrounding Huntingdon community.
throughout the academic year through
prayer/meditation room and a kitchen.
the Diversity and Democracy Series, the Inclusive Excellence Series, and student
In collaboration with EDI, Campus
cultural events.
Ministry services guide personal
Recent speakers: Donna Edwards, former U.S. Representative
Payton Head, former president of the
for Maryland’s 4th congressional district
Missouri Students Association and
and current MSNBC commentator
activist
Evelyn from the Internets,
exploration of faith development and
Evelyn from the Internets
Ysaye M. Barnwell, composer, writer,
(Evelyn Ngugi), humor writer digital
choreographer, and member of the
storyteller, and Youtube sensation
African American a cappella ensemble
enrichment. Students are invited to
The Unity House
religious services at local houses
students explore religion and spirituality,
of worship and engage with visiting
while encouraging an active application of
religious scholars. Campus Ministry helps
their values. Students enjoy excursion to nearby Raystown Lake for the annual Plexus fall retreat.
Plexus focuses on multiculturalism,
students to become an active collaborator
as it pertains to myriad identities that
and partner who contributes to the diversity
encompass ability, age, gender identity,
and ever-changing climate of growth at
Sampling of multicultural student events include:
sex and sexual identity, nationality, race,
our college.
Multicultural Storyfest • Black Excellence Dinner • Latinx Dinner
religion, socioeconomic class, and more!
Jonathan Mooney, award-winning author,
Sweet Honey in the Rock
entrepreneur, and activist
• Vietnamese Dinner • Pridefest • Diwali
Ysaye M. Barnwell
Umoja at Lobsterfest, Juniata’s club fair
Interfaith dinner hosted by Muslim Student Association
A sampling of the many clubs that find their home at the Unity House: Spiritual clubs
Cultural clubs
PRISM
Active Minds (suicide prevention)
French Club
Russian Club
Catholic Council
German Club
Spanish Club
Hillel
Gente de la cultura LatinX
Ubuntu African Club
Juniata Christian Fellowship
Japanese Club
Umoja
Meditative Minds
Korean Club
Vietnamese Club
Philosophy Club
Plexus
Plexus has three integral parts: Our network of student leaders, faculty mentors and support staff strives to help students develop the skills to be socially conscious, self-advocating and selfempowered freethinkers. We encourage students to find their unique voice and to
Plexus Inbound, an introductory experience open to all first-year students. Plexus Fellowship, a peer-to-peer support and mentoring program for firstgeneration college students. Plexus Student Organization, a student
contribute that voice to our community as
club with a focus on advocacy and
they embark on and persist through their
education of social issues as well as
Juniata journey. Plexus encourages all
self-care.
Juniata values diversity in all of its forms and recognizes the important contribution students from small towns and urban settings bring to campus culture. Any student interested in learning about diversity on the Juniata campus is welcome.