Published on April 21, 2021  

The Office of Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives (ODII) was started in 2013 with a goal of advancing efforts to engage the Samford community in multicultural curricular and cocurricular development while promoting a variety of campus events that enhance cross-cultural initiatives, celebrate diversity and inclusion, and promote respect for others.

Since 2006, more women have been hired into leadership roles, including the appointment of the second and third female vice presidents in university history.

Minority (non-white by definition) students increased 106% (436 to 900). As a percent of the overall population, the number of minority students grew from 9.7% to 15.7%.

Numerous student organizations were created to support diverse groups on campus, including:

  • The African Students Association
  • The Black Law Students Association
  • The Black Student Union
  • The Chinese Students and Scholars Association
  • The Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority Inc.
  • DREAM (Disability Rights, Education, Activism and Mentoring)
  • Finance and Economics Women
  • Gospel Choir
  • Hispanic Law Student Association
  • The International Club
  • The Latino Student Organization
  • Four National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities and sororities
  • The Student National Pharmaceutical Association

In 2011, Stephanie VanBrakle became the first Black head coach at Samford when she served as the head coach of the women’s softball team.

In December 2015, Tim Vines, president and chief executive officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, was announced as the first person of color to be appointed as chair of the Board of Trustees. He served in this role for the maximum four-year term. He continues serving the university as a trustee, member of the executive committee and co-chair of the presidential search committee.

The Samford Black Alumni Association (SBAA) formed in 2014 to strengthen the legacy of educational attainment and excellence of Black students at Samford. As of February 2021, there are 2,441 alumni members.

In 2016, Keith Elder became the first person of color to serve as an academic dean when he was appointed dean of Samford’s School of Public Health.

In 2018, Alyssa Whitehead was the first Black female athlete inducted into the Samford Athletics Hall of Fame. Whitehead starred on the women’s soccer team 2008-2012.

Inspiring Minorities to Pursue Academics and Community Together (IMPACT) was established to promote a successful social and academic experience for underrepresented groups at Samford. Its goal is to increase the academic, career and social success of first-year minority students by developing a sense of community.

During the 2017-2018 academic year, Samford commemorated the 50th anniversary of integration on campus. In a special kickoff event for the yearlong commemoration, President Westmoreland said, “Fifty years ago, the Samford University family grew more diverse, larger and stronger...and the world was better for it.”

The Shelley Stewart Endowed Scholarship, established in 2018, supports minority students in the School of Health Professions. It is one of more than 20 scholarships that support minority students on campus.

In 2019, the Student Government Association launched Common Ground, a program pairing students with opposing political views to discuss topics in order to build appreciation for differing viewpoints.

The Minority Youth Science Academy, which started in 2014, is a three-day residential program offering college preparation and mentoring for outstanding minority high school students who aspire to careers in the sciences.

The Task Force on Racial Justice was formed in 2020 and charged with fostering positive, enduring changes in campus culture and existing systems so that racial justice may become a known attribute of the institution.

The Reconciliation Memorial, installed in 2020, honors the many contributions of the Black men and women who built and sustain the institution’s mission.

Launched in 2021, the Ragland Scholars program is a four-year cohort experience for multicultural students named in honor of Elizabeth Sloan Ragland, the first Black residential student at Samford.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.