When I was appointed Central Michigan University’s (CMU’s) first chief diversity officer in April 2018, I was charged with making the campus a more inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. At CMU, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is more than a feel-good effort; it is part of our mission and who we are as an institution. It is a set of goals we work for daily. Our campus thrives on the unique perspectives and backgrounds of everyone who is part of our community. Our conscious effort not only to invest in but promote and celebrate what makes CMU different is a major factor in why so many students choose to call CMU home.
Character (Still) Counts: Moral Injury and the Case for Character Education
Many academic leaders remember the Character Counts! initiative from the 1990s and early 2000s. It was visible in schools and youth programs nationwide, emphasizing as core values the Six Pillars
Teresa Maggard Stephens
June 15, 2026
