Robert E. Thach, Ph.D. (right), dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, greets Walter Massey, Ph.D., president of Morehouse College, at the Oct. 15 Diversity Initiative Retreat at the Charles F. Knight Executive Education Center. Looking on is Gruia-Catalin Roman, Ph.D., the Harold B. and Adelaide G. Welge Professor of Computer Science and chair of the Department of Computer Science & Engineering. The event featured several presentations, including “Diversity as a Business Imperative,” “Diversity Data: Washington University and Comparable Schools,” “Diversifying the Faculty” and Massey’s talk, “Higher Education Diversity Imperative.” Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton convened the retreat after the recent reaccreditation review by the North Central Association’s Higher Learning Commission showed that the University could do more in the area of strengthening diversity and gender balance. “The diversity initiative launched this fall, which includes the creation of the University’s coordinating council for diversity initiatives, the appointment of a new special assistant to the chancellor for diversity initiatives, as well as the hosting of today’s diversity retreat, signals Washington University’s commitment to applying new energy and creativity to this important endeavor,” Wrighton said.