Maryville University received the 2018 Corporate Diversity Award from the St. Louis American Foundation at the 19th annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon, which took place in November. The award is presented annually to honor an organization’s continued, progressive commitment to diversity in the St. Louis region.
“We are humbled and thrilled to have received this outstanding recognition,” said president Mark Lombardi, PhD. “Maryville has worked strategically and passionately to build a diverse and inclusive learning environment and that work will continue to accelerate and grow.”
To signify the importance of this commitment, diversity and inclusion are core values of Maryville and one of the pillars of the University’s strategic plan.
“Through a clear and determined strategy that will not end, we have recruited a more diverse student body, faculty and staff who engage in a wide variety of curricular and enrichment programs designed to build a truly inclusive campus culture,” Lombardi said. “We are by no means finished, but, led by our Office of Diversity and Inclusion, we believe that issues surrounding diversity and inclusion can be addressed and solved through engaged civil dialogue and respect for all people and their experiences.”
Over the past five years, Maryville has intentionally worked toward building a more diverse campus community. Students of color represent 25 percent of the total student population, and that number has doubled since 2008. The number of diverse faculty and staff tripled over the same time period.
Additionally, Maryville University is expanding access to higher education for all students. The University’s Multicultural Scholarship program has grown exponentially over the past five years — the number of scholarship participants increased by 54 percent in the past year alone. The University has also raised millions from generous donors and matched those funds with institutional support to open the doors of access for several hundred students from the St. Louis region and beyond.