Metropolitan State University of Denver earned another prestigious honor for its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion when University leaders accepted a 2024 Leaders in Diversity Award from the Denver Business Journal. MSU Denver was one of 11 organizations honored at the June 20 awards ceremony, which also recognized 10 individual DEI leaders.
The DBJ selection committee considered nominees from across metro Denver, rating organizations and individuals on their DEI accomplishments, leadership, innovations and impact on local communities. The awards highlight outstanding organizations and outspoken individuals for going above and beyond to bolster equality across all areas of diversity, including age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity and religion. Committee members specifically lauded the University for its commitment to DEI and for leading four-year public institutions in the state in several categories.
- MSU Denver employs the highest percentage of tenured/tenure-track faculty members of color (26.9%).
- MSU Denver employs the highest percentage of tenured/tenure-track Black faculty members (4%) and the third-highest for Latinx faculty members (9%).
“Diversity is truly central to our mission, vision and academic values,” said Michael Benitez, Ph.D., vice president for Diversity and Inclusion, referencing the University’s collaboration with organizations such as the Latin American Education Foundation and the Black Roundtable as well as the displaced–Aurarian community. “This work doesn’t just live within my team; it is woven throughout the entire fabric of the University and our larger campus community, and it’s gratifying to see these efforts — and the people driving them — recognized and celebrated.”
The University has also created faculty fellowship programs, employee affinity groups, a diverse teacher-assistant program and a new faculty academy to attract and retain diverse faculty members and ensure that all employees feel a sense of community and belonging at work.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion are not just features of a strong workplace and healthy culture — they play an important role in maintaining a workplace’s competitive advantage,” wrote Keith Dennis, DBJ publisher and market president. “In this time of rapid social change and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to recognize businesses and leaders who are effectively promoting authentic DEI in the workplace.”
While this may be MSU Denver’s first time earning the DBJ award, the University has already received top-tier recognition for DEI work, including:
- Ten consecutive years as a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award winner from Insight Into Diversity magazine.
- Earning a three-year certification with the Seal of Excelencia in recognition of the University’s evidence-based commitment to serving Latinx students — the first and only Colorado institution of higher education to receive the distinction.
- Designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, serving the highest percentage of Latinx students among institutions of higher education in Colorado.
- Employee recognition from the Colorado Coalition for the Educational Advancement of Latinos in recent years, including the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor award, the Faculty Impact Practice award and a Staff Impact award.
