Dear students, staff and faculty,

These past few weeks have been a low point for our campus. Failing to use prior practices to consider tenure for Nikole Hannah-Jones, the newly selected Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism, opened up old (and new) wounds for our campus community that is entirely inconsistent with our aspirations of diversity, equity, and inclusion. It’s heartbreaking to read the words of Lamar Richards, our student body president, as he discusses oppression and exploitation. It’s mortifying to read about how members of the Black Caucus are looking to leave Carolina because they do not feel welcome. As leaders at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, we understand their frustration, anger and disappointment.

Yet we also stand steadfast in our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for all, because we know it will enrich our culture, enhance student learning, and improve the health of the people of North Carolina. In 2019, as Dean White worked with members of our community to articulate a vision for DEI in our School, and implemented our first DEI strategic plan in 2020, we knew that we were on an exciting journey to be better. We knew that we could create a more dynamic and creative environment by focusing on diversity. We knew that if we could remove barriers for students wanting to access our programs, these students would bring fresh perspectives and ideas, and challenge the status quo. Taken together, a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion is exactly what we need to serve our mission of preparing leaders and innovators to solve the world’s most pressing health care challenges.

We encourage you to join us in a Town Hall on Monday, June 21, at 3 p.m. to discuss happenings on campus, reaffirm our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to hear your concerns, thoughts, and ideas. You can access the Town Hall via Zoom.

In solidarity,

The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Dean's Council

Angela Kashuba, BScPhm, PharmD, DABCP, FCP
Dean, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy

Carla White, B.S. Pharm.
Associate Dean for Organizational Diversity and Inclusion

Mollie Scott, Pharm.D.
Regional Associate Dean at Asheville

Mary McClurg, Pharm.D., M.H.S.
Executive Vice Dean-Chief Academic Officer

Scott Savage, Pharm.D., M.S.
Executive Vice Dean-Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Wendy Cox, Pharm.D.
Vice Dean for Professional Education

Kim Brouwer, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education

Stephen Eckel, Pharm.D., M.H.A.
Associate Dean for Global Engagement

Annie Hager-Blunk, C.F.R.E.
Associate Dean for Advancement
Roy Zwahlen
Associate Dean for Strategic Risk Management

John Bamforth, Ph.D.
Director of Eshelman Institute for Innovation