ISU President Gregory Geoffroy will consult both the Ames and ISU communities for advice on campus diversity issues.

The 23-member President’s Committee on Diversity Matters will focus on increasing diversity among the faculty, staff and students of Iowa State as well as improving the campus environment.

Walter Gmelch, dean of education and co-chair of the diversity committee, said the committee will help “celebrate the richness of life” by accepting cultural, ethnic, gender and sexuality differences.

“I think it is absolutely critical that we reform some of our core values,” he said.

The first thing on the committee’s agenda this year will be to establish basic goals, Gmelch said.

“Our next meeting will include agenda setting, coming up with a mission statement and goals and reviewing our objectives for the university,” he said.

The committee includes staff, faculty and students from Iowa State as well as members from the greater Ames community, Gmelch said.

“Diversity isn’t just the Iowa State community but the Ames community as well,” he said.

Carla Espinoza, assistant vice president for human resource services and co-chair of the committee, said Iowa State is innovative in working toward progress in diversity matters.

“I think ISU sits like an island in the middle of a homogeneous society,” she said. “Many students here don’t have previous experience with people of other backgrounds, so I think it’s important to discuss these issues openly and lay the topics out on the table.”

Establishing the foundation for the committee won’t be the only important issue to deal with this year, Espinoza said.

“President Geoffroy has mentioned that his specific issue has to do with retention and graduation of minority students,” she said.

Tracey Owens Patton, assistant professor of journalism and mass communication, was nominated to be on the committee.

“I’m glad to know the new president is as committed to diversity as the faculty are,” she said.

The presence of the diversity committee will benefit the campus community as well as Ames as a whole, Patton said.

“I think this signals to students, faculty and staff that Iowa State is committed to diversity and to having a variety of people embraced,” she said.

Roy Salcedo, graduate student in education leadership and policy studies, said he was nominated because of his previous position as the graduate representative on the Government of the Student Body.

The committee’s close connection to the president is important, he said.

“We have the influence to have direct contact with the president, which allows us a strong influence in decision making,” he said. “There’s no middle person to go through.”

The committee itself is made up of a diverse group of people as well, Salcedo said.

“It allows everyone’s perspective to be heard,” he said. “Representation is key.”

The committee will attempt to clarify the misconception that diversity is more about minorities than anything else, he said.

“Diversity is inclusive on everyone, not just minorities,” Salcedo said.

Members of the committee said they are enthusiastic about beginning the task ahead.

“I’m very excited,” Gmelch said.

“It took me half a second to agree to participate.”