Continued on next page 35 A Conversation with Dr. Guilherme Albieri, Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer New York has a long and proud history of embracing diversity. As the public university system serving one of the nation’s most diverse states, it is essential that the State University of New York adapt to the evolving needs of all students. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy for SUNY in September 2015, indicating that the Empire State is, and must remain, a national leader and a beacon of inclusion. The new policy broadly defines diversity to include race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, age, socioeconomic status, status as a veteran, status as a student with a disability, first-generation students, international students, and those transferring between colleges. The policy aims to improve services and support for these students, ensure that SUNY’s student, faculty, and staff populations mirror that of New York State, and ensure that SUNY’s commitment to being welcoming and inclusive to all populations is clear. As the College’s vice president for student affairs and chief diversity officer, Dr. Guilherme Albieri works with all campus offices to elevate inclusiveness and implement best practices in student recruitment, retention, and completion strategies and administrative, faculty, and staff recruitment and retention strategies. You play an integral role in shaping the support service infrastructure necessary for student success. How exactly does the College currently create a climate that fosters respect for differences? Creating a climate that welcomes and respects differences is the core of what we do. Our recent climate survey showed that 93-percent of our students feel they are part of the College community. We strive to instill that sense of belonging early in the admissions process, before students even step onto campus. The College also encourages diverse student organizations, including the National Optometric Student Association, which recruits students from underrepresented populations, the Chinese Culture Optometric Student Association, and Spectrum, which supports our LGBTQ+ community. We are a small institution and know all of our students’ first names. This helps us to establish a level of trust that is difficult to match.
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