Our Commitment

President Joseph E. Aoun has outlined the following series of actionable steps to advance justice and cultural literacy throughout our university community and to help end systemic racism.

The Addition of an NUPD Advisory Board

The board’s mission is to guide, inform, and strengthen NUPD’s relationship with the community—both within and outside Northeastern.

Elevation of the Presidential Council on Diversity and Inclusion

The council, formed in 2013, has been charged with finding new opportunities for Northeastern to become more diverse, inclusive, and equitable, and to advance the cause of racial justice.

Additional steps in the President’s Action Plan

Increase diversity and representation at all levels
Improve universitywide accountability
Appointed Robert Jose as Dean for Cultural and Spiritual Life
Improve support for Black students
Enact cultural competency and anti-racism training
Deepen community engagement
Amplify our impact through our employer partners

Read the full plan

Ideas, Action, Change

Northeastern has long been focused on raising awareness and creating change toward a more equitable and socially just world.

John D. O’Bryant African American Institute

Supporting students of African origin and engaging the broader university community in developing student leaders.

Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project

Helping scholars, policymakers, and organizers seek justice for civil rights crimes committed during the period of 1930 to 1970.

Center on Crime and Community Resilience

Finding innovative, research-based policy solutions to crime and other urban social problems.

Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy

Developing and implementing policies to improve the quality of life and social justice in urban areas.

Institute on Race and Justice

Providing critical research to influence issues of race and inequality in the criminal justice and education systems.

Strategic Advancement of Rising Scholars (STARS) Fellowship

Offering funding and support to help underrepresented students of color pursue PhDs and careers in STEM.

Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion

This Northeastern office promotes the university’s commitment to equal opportunity, affirmative action, diversity, and social justice while building a climate of inclusion throughout our campuses.

Learn More

Every day our students, faculty, staff, and alumni put ideas into action to build a more inclusive and equitable community. It’s important to share our stories and support one other in this commitment.

Northeastern appoints Karl Reid first chief inclusion officer

Reid, who has held leadership roles at the National Society of Black Engineers and the United Negro College Fund, will have a cabinet-level role at Northeastern. His charge: to lead the creation and implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Gallery 360’s new exhibit, ‘Dream Boston,’ addresses COVID-19, racial justice

It wasn’t difficult to discern the two major issues that impacted 2020, says Gallery 360 curator Amy Halliday: “Both the pandemic and the heightened attention to the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement all came together at the same time.” The gallery’s new exhibit, she says, brings these global and national themes local.

She’s bringing her energy justice mission to the Biden administration

Law professor Shalanda Baker was tapped for a new post at the Department of Energy. Her mandate is to expand clean energy production while ensuring access for Black Americans and other marginalized groups—continuing the work she did as co-director of Northeastern’s Initiative for Energy Justice.