During his first semester on campus in fall 2018, Dr. Charles “Chuck” Wight, ninth president of SU, dedicated the SU Center for Equity, Justice and Inclusion (CEJI).
Upon his retirement in 2022, members of his Executive Staff announced the center would be named in his honor, celebrating his commitment to diversity and inclusion. They recently fulfilled that promise, making the name official during a surprise presentation at this year’s SU President’s Diversity and Inclusion Champion Awards ceremony.
“From the first few weeks on campus, Chuck knew he needed to put resources and energy into developing robust resources for diversity, equity and inclusion,” said his wife, Victoria Rasmussen, who shared her thoughts on the honor during a video presentation. “He also understood that meaningful growth in this area would only result if people could come together, trust each other, and openly discuss and develop programs that they believed in.”
The foundations of these discussions were casual conversations Wight had with students while dining in the Commons and attending student activities. Students and others were able to connect with many of Wight’s values, including a belief in the need for diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as making decisions based on sound, tested principles, Rasmussen said. These connections and decisions helped shape the CEJI into a thriving center.
Pictured, from left, are Eli Modlin ’16, SU chief of staff and vice president of public affairs and strategic initiatives; Dr. Dane Foust, vice president of student affairs; Dr. Charles A. Wight; SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre; and Jason Curtin ’98, vice president of advancement and alumni engagement, and executive director of the SU Foundation, Inc.