Dear Pacificans,

As we move into the fall semester, we do so in the wake of Labor Day, a holiday whose deeper significance is often overlooked. Labor Day was established to honor the contributions, dignity, and rights of working people and to recognize the collective efforts that helped secure safer working conditions, fairer treatment and greater opportunity in the workplace. 

At its heart, Labor Day reflects enduring commitments to equity, inclusion and human dignity. The principles that shaped the labor movement, the belief that every person deserves respect, voice, belonging, and fair access to opportunity, remain central to the work of diversity, equity and inclusion today. 

As a university community dedicated to educating and empowering future generations, Labor Day reminds us that creating equitable and inclusive environments is not only a contemporary responsibility but also part of a longer moral tradition of advancing opportunity, justice and human flourishing for all.

It is within this spirit that I invite you to join Pacific's 2026 Fall Equity Series. 

Through practical learning, meaningful dialogue, and shared reflection, students, faculty and staff will deepen their understanding of the current state of diversity in higher education, inclusive design, intercultural competence and equity-minded leadership while strengthening their capacity to build trust, navigate complexity and contribute to a university where all Pacificans thrive.

We know these outcomes do not happen by accident. They are shaped through everyday intentions—interactions, decisions, policies and practices. Small choices have a lasting impact on our commitment to "stay the course" and how people feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to contribute.

This is why the work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging continues to matter, and why DEI belongs to all of us.

This year, our community is grounded in the theme Bridging Together, which emerged from the 5th Annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leadership Retreat. Bridging calls us to build relationships across differences while remaining firmly committed to equity, belonging, and human dignity. It asks us to lead with curiosity instead of certainty, care instead of caution, and engagement instead of withdrawal.

The Fall Equity Series reflects that commitment, and these conversations represent an investment in the intellectual, relational and ethical capacities needed to lead in an increasingly complex world. 

THE STATE OF DIVERSITY TOWN HALL
September 22, 2026 | 12 p.m.–1 p.m. | DeRosa University Center Ballroom A

Marking Pacific's five-year journey toward becoming a national model for diversity, equity and inclusion, Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Lomax-Ghirarduzzi will celebrate our progress, examine challenges and explore how our community can renew its commitment to belonging, equity and human flourishing across our campuses.

INCLUSIVE DESIGN, ONE STEP AT A TIME
October 27, 2026 | 12 p.m.–1 p.m. | Zoom

October 28, 2026 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m. | Center for Teaching and Learning

In collaboration with the Center for Teaching and Learning, and grounded in the principles of Universal Design, examine how everyday decisions, systems, policies, and practices shape the experiences of students, faculty, and staff, and learn practical strategies for creating more inclusive environments. To register for either of these workshops, click here.

INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE: A BRIDGE TO BELONGING
November 11, 2026 | 12 p.m.–1 p.m. | DeRosa University Center Ballroom A

Develop skills and strategies for engaging effectively across cultures, identities, and experiences while strengthening relationships and fostering belonging. To register, click here.

INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT & DEI HOLIDAY GATHERING
December 4, 2026 | 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. | Sacramento Campus

Engage in a day of immersive and reflective experiences and explore how inclusive leadership advances Pacific’s values. We will also come together to celebrate the collective efforts that strengthen our university community.

As an affirmation to honor the continuing legacy of Labor Day, I hope you will join us this semester for the Fall Equity Series and continue using the Bridging Together framework as a tool to build our inclusive leadership.

With appreciation,

Mary J. Lomax-Ghirarduzzi
Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Professor of Communication