Center for Diversity

The Center received initial funding from a $500,000 grant from the Balfour Foundation, Bank America Trustee. The Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation arose from the estate of Lloyd G. Balfour, founder of the L.G. Balfour Co. of Attleboro, Massachusetts, renowned manufacturer of class rings, membership insignia and other related products. One of the foundation’s priorities is enhancing access to education with an emphasis on helping colleges and universities support and increase diversity.

Executive Director’s Welcome

Welcome to the Center for Diversity in the Communication Industries at Emerson College. Rather than being a repository for information and resources, the Center is a conduit and facilitator of ideas and resources to be used throughout the Emerson College community.

In this way, each of the constituent areas of the college becomes a center for diversity. The idea is to have organic development of goals - and the programs to meet those goals - emanate at the basic levels of the college’s operation.

This approach was established in the seminal document, An Initiative for Diversity in the Communication Industries, which attracted funding to establish the Center. The initiative calls for a sustained seven-year effort to be fully realized.

We are hard at work in creating community through diversity by engaging in frank and open discussion and utilizing the arts and communication disciplines as the platform to address the most vital and challenging issue in our nation, race prejudice.

Simultaneously, the CDCI is an advocate, ally, and resource in addressing all forms of bigotry whether in regard to religious belief, sexual orientation, physical disability, or cultural background. We welcome all to join our work and appreciate the ever increasing support of students, faculty, staff and alumni as well as friends outside the immediate Emerson College community.

William H. 'Smitty' Smith, Ed.D.
Executive Director