Contact us:
Eduardo Nino-Moreno, director of diversity and inclusion
Tammie A. Williams, diversity and inclusion specialist
Old Morrison 101
(859) 233-8777
diversity@transy.edu
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Eduardo Nino-Moreno
Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Old Morrison 101
(859) 233-8777
enino@transy.edu
Eduardo Nino-Moreno is Transylvania's first director of campus diversity and inclusion, a position critical to the goals of the university as outlined in its seven-year strategic plan, Transylvania 2020. Transylvania President R. Owen Williams created the position soon after his arrival on campus in 2010 and, in an effort to give its mission maximum visibility, incorporated it into the Office of the President.
As director, Nino-Moreno works with all areas of Transylvania to promote a culture of diversity on campus, from spreading the word about the college in other countries to organizing events on campus that foster provocative discussion and better understanding of other cultures, races, religions, or disabilities to anything else that can help a person see the world from a different viewpoint.
"Diversity and inclusion are issues you cannot escape—they are present wherever you go and whatever you do," Nino-Moreno says. "I learned through my years of international service that the more diverse the teams I work with, the better the results in the end. That gave me a fantastic perspective. I feel as if I have prepared for this particular job all my life."
Nino-Moreno himself has a diverse background. A Uruguayan citizen, born in Colombia, he married a woman from Panama after she graduated from a Mexican university. After obtaining an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and a graduate degree from Cornell University, he worked for the United Nations for almost three decades, working in 14 countries and carrying out missions in many more.
Now in Lexington, Nino-Moreno is establishing ties with community leaders in an effort to develop two-way relationships that will benefit both Transylvania and the larger community. He meets regularly with students and faculty, and his office sponsors workshops on sensitive diversity and inclusion issues. His ultimate goal is to transform the campus culture.
"We as a campus can promote understanding," he says. "The idea is to have as much difference as possible, until difference doesn’t make any more difference."
Tammie Williams
Diversity and Inclusion Specialist
Old Morrison 101
(859) 233-8610
twilliams@transy.edu
Tammie Williams has worked in a number of key offices on the Transylvania campus, from admissions to the registrar’s office to the Mitchell Fine Arts Center. That gives her unusual insight into how these various offices support the Transylvania students and promote their successful academic and social integration on campus. It also means she’s a terrific resource when students have a question or a problem but aren’t sure who to talk to.
“I’ve worked at Transylvania 12 years…this time! I keep coming back. Because I’ve had these other experiences, I can say to a student who’s struggling, ‘If you go to this office and ask for this person, they can help you.’“
Soon after she accepted the position as diversity and inclusion specialist in 2012, Williams identified an underserved student group on campus: commuters. During her initial presentation to first-year students, she invited everyone to come by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and make themselves at home in the “nook”—a reception area with comfortable chairs and access to drinks and snacks.
Williams discovered that the first-year commuter students found this was a convenient landing spot for them in between classes. The office purchased some portable tables students can set up for their laptops or books.
“They didn’t have any place to put their book bags or drink a soda. One commuter student is a swimmer. She asked, ‘Can I put my suitcase in your office? We’re traveling today.’ In the winter, when it’s really cold and Jazzman’s is crowded, these students may have 10 minutes and they can come in here, grab a cup of coffee or cocoa, and then head on their way.”
As the diversity and inclusion specialist, Tammie works directly with a variety of student organizations—such as the Diversity Action Council, the Black Student Alliance, and TUnity—dedicated to building bridges among the students. She may help them develop budgets, plan events, or determine who on campus to contact about coordinating details.
However her day unfolds, it’s clear what Williams finds most satisfying about this position.
“The best part is working with the students. I thought that since this office would be working with everyone, I would have even more access to a greater variety of students. And that’s been really good.”
Transylvania University admits students regardless of age, race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, national origin, or any other classification protected by federal or state law or local ordinance.
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