Letter From CDIO

It is an honor to greet you as Sacred Heart University’s (SHU) chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO). I have dedicated my life to serving my purpose and passion for advocacy. Therefore, it is a blessing to serve SHU in ways that advocate for so many underrepresented people and needs. Rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, our institution embraces a vision for social justice, and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to help advance our social justice calling as the CDIO.

In my role, I lead the Office for Inclusive Excellence (OIE), SHU’s division dedicated to advancing all things related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). As we pursue inclusive excellence as a community, I encourage you to engage with areas of the OIE. Encompassing Multicultural Affairs, Sexuality and Gender Equity, Inclusive Excellence Education and Development, and anti-discrimination work, there are many opportunities to engage with OIE. Explore our website, check for global emails and follow our social media accounts for more information on ways to get involved. We are on Instagram @shu_inclusion and @shu_multiculturalcenter_.

One of my favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou, and it says, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” My personal and professional life is committed to ensuring that people feel like they belong, in perception and in truth. In DEIB, belonging is the outcome that I aspire to facilitate for every person at or connected to SHU.

With Pioneer pride,

Maurice D. Nelson
Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer