Who We Are

Vision

The Office of Equity, Social Justice and Multicultural Education (the Equity Office) envisions De Anza College as a joyful community of high-performing learners committed to critical thinking, self-care, cross-cultural acceptance, self-reflection and lifelong scholarship. What’s more, we envision a community working together to maintain a learning institution free of bias, prejudice and discrimination of any kind, at which cultural humility, equity and kindness guide our intellectual and civic engagement.

Mission

The Office of Equity, Social Justice and Multicultural Education promotes — through programs and services — an academic, cultural and social environment that provides equity, social justice and academic success for all members of the De Anza College campus community. It supports the district and college missions, which consider diversity an essential component of student education in the 21st century.

The Equity Office takes this charge seriously. We have expanded our mission of fostering a climate of healthy diversity that values individual and group differences and respects the perspectives of others by working to eliminate institutional oppression or barriers that perpetuate inequity, injustice, and mono-cultural education.

History

The Office of Equity, Social Justice and Multicultural Education (formerly the Office of Diversity) first opened its doors at De Anza in 1989, primarily to ensure affirmative action and equal opportunity in hiring faculty and staff. Since then, the college has expanded its services to include faculty and student equity.

Today, thanks to the tireless commitment and efforts of many, the Office of Equity, Social Justice and Multicultural Education provides guidance and leadership in developing and maintaining an environment that upholds De Anza’s value of inclusion while seeking to address those obstacles that hamper student success as well as faculty and staff excellence.

This work includes deepening our acceptance and understanding of the rich cultural and ethnic diversity groups, including racial, gender, LGBTQQI, religious, differently abled, and economic and political affinity groups, to name a few that are representative of the students, faculty and staff at De Anza College.

In Honor of Diversity Champions and Pioneers

We would like to thank the following past Equity Office directors — Carolyn Wilkins-Greene, Eugene Fujimoto, Marion Winters and Edmundo Norte — and all who commit their time, energy and passion to building an inclusive community at De Anza.