Please join us as we celebrate Christine Grant and her 28 years of service to the University of Hartford with a retirement party on Tuesday, June 17, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Shaw Center-Hillyer Building.
Christine began her UHart career in 1997 as Coordinator and Counselor in the Office of Graduate and Adult Services. In 2001, she moved into the role of Manager of External Relations. She was named Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement in 2018, then in 2022 she was named Assistant Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging. She established the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, now the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging. Christine was appointed to the President’s Cabinet in 2020.
Over the past seven years, she has provided leadership and guidance for numerous initiatives and programs prompting Inclusive, Excellence, and Belonging. In that work she has collaborated with students, faculty, and staff across campus envisioning a more inclusive, welcoming UHart, in addition to her exemplary efforts connecting our University to the Greater Hartford community.
Chris’s expert voice, knowledge, and experiences were vital to the execution of the University’s 12-Point Action Plan for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Signature highlights of her leadership include the establishment of the annual MLK Program and awards ceremony, leading the administration of the Pulse Faculty and Staff Climate Survey, the institutionalization of the University Land Acknowledgement, and led the Crucial Conversation Initiative. She co-chaired the President’s Steering Committee on Inclusive Excellence. A key accomplishment of this work was the revision of the 1990 Diversity Statement, now the University Commitment to Inclusive Excellence Statement. Chris developed and led a variety of impactful trainings in an effort to increase awareness and hosted the impressive speakers’ series for the community. Her prescient focus on Inclusive Excellence will have a lasting impact on our community.
In addition to her administrative duties, Chris is an adjunct faculty member in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program, teaching the Caribbean Mosaic course. Many students have been impacted through her teaching over the years.
We look forward to bringing the community together to celebrate her legacy.