During fall 2015, the Black Students of Emory University movement presented university administrators with 13 demands concerning racial justice at the institution. Within days, Emory officials issued an initial response and engaged with Emory student leaders to plan a retreat to address all issues set forth in the demands.

Convened in February 2016, the 1st annual Racial Justice Retreat spanned more than six hours and drew nearly 100 invited guests. Approximately half were students and the remainder faculty, staff, and administrators. The gathering produced constructive dialogue and recommendations. You can review highlights and offer feedback via the Demands tab to your left.

A team of students and administrators was formed and charged with incorporating feedback from retreat participants and the larger Emory community – and developing next steps in the ongoing process of reshaping the racial contours of a major university. This team, the Commission on Racial and Social Justice, has worked for the past 3 years the on issues highlighted by the demands.

On August 1, 2019, Emory welcomed Carol E. Henderson, vice provost for diversity and inclusion, chief diversity officer and advisor to the president. As the university’s first chief diversity officer, Henderson will continue the work of the CRSJ and lead the realization of Emory’s vision for diversity, equity and inclusion by working with campus leaders and representatives to define community goals, establish guiding principles and create a strategy for moving forward and communicating progress.