Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

The University of California Global Health Institute advances the missions of the University of California to improve the lives of people in California and the world through our commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Diversity is a defining feature of the University of California and we embrace it as a source of strength. Our differences — of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, socioeconomic status, abilities, experience and more — enhance our ability to achieve the university’s core missions of public service, teaching and research. We welcome faculty, staff and students from all backgrounds and want everyone at UC to feel respected and valued. >> Read the University of California statement on diversity.

UCGHI Black Lives Matter Task Force

Since 2020, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement catalyzed the UC Global Health Institute to center justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in all our work. Through our complex journey, we continue to reflect on how we have supported systemic racism and unlearn our approaches rooted in these systems, be open and learn about justice-oriented models, explore what we can do differently in our work, and take actionable steps to address past harms and create justice-focused anti-racist frameworks as individuals and as an organization, especially as a systemwide entity.

The UCGHI BLM Task Force works in partnership with UCGHI Leadership and the University of California, Office of the President. The Task Force engages in discussions on JEDI, anti-racism, and decolonizing global health while highlighting areas that need further attention at UCGHI and across UC.

Since 2020, the BLM Task Force has:

• Created and administered a DEI survey to gather metrics of diversity and inclusion within the UCGHI community and used results to come up with solutions that foster a more diverse and inclusive environment to prevent future discrimination.
• Provided guidance on JEDI-centered recruitment processes for UCGHI Leadership positions, including the addition of four new UCGHI Advisory Council members and the new Director.
• Created a five-pronged DEI Recommendations list that includes an evolving action plan to better integrate anti-racism into the fabric of the institution.
• Provided direction for the UC Global Health Day 2021 event (Decolonizing Global Health to Advance Health Equity) and UC Global Health Day 2022 event (Centering Social Justice in Community Health).
• Advised the direction of UCGHI-related presentations and events, most notably the UCGHI presentation to the UC Regents.
• Created space for UCGHI Centers and Programs to examine and better integrate JEDI into their programs.
• Served as a reliable resource for UCGHI Leadership and UCGHI Centers/Programs to better integrate justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout their existing programs and initiatives and launch new programs and initiatives.

UCGHI stands in solidarity with Asian Americans and Asians in the Bay Area and across the U.S.

UCGHI denounces the horrific and racist attacks on people of Asian descent fueled by pandemic rhetoric that has amplified anti-Asian bias and discrimination.

News & Updates

How a UC scholar and UC faculty member are centering Black health

In the battle against systemic racism, the realm of global health is far from immune to its  negative and often destructive impact. 

As UCGHI's Deputy Director, Sun Yu Cotter Works to Cultivate More Diversity in Global Health and Take Up More Space as an Asian-American

As a child of Korean immigrants who learned English at age five and a first-generation college graduate, Sun Yu Cotter, MPH, faced challenges in the process of achieving the level of success she has today.

UC Berkeley expert: In times of crisis, anti-Asian violence is an American tradition

The structural and historical roots of anti-Asian racism in the U.S. are part of contemporary Asian American race relations.

UC Irvine Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion message on anti-Asian violence

A message from Douglas M. Haynes, UCI Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and UCGHI Black Lives Matter Task Force member. 

UCGHI Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Recommendations

These recommendations are a product of contributions from the UCGHI Black Lives Matter Task Force, UCGHI Leadership Team, UCGHI Board of Directors as well as the UCGHI community.

2020 UC Global Health Institute Black Lives Matter Task Force – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Survey Results

The primary objective of this survey was to gather metrics of diversity and inclusion within the UC Global Health Institute community, including both the Women’s Health, Gender, and Empowerment Center of Expertise (COE) and the Planetary Health COE.

UC Leadership Statements on death of George Floyd

Leadership across the University of California release statements in response to the death of George Floyd (May-June 2020).