“Higher education positively affects social mobility, meaning students from all backgrounds – white, Black, Hispanic, from eastern Kentucky, western Kentucky, the suburbs, the inner cities, small towns, rural areas — become empowered to enhance the quality of life for themselves and their families, while increasing the talent dividend for the state of Kentucky,” Gill said.

In the spirit of oneness, Gill has restructured DEI work at the Health Sciences Center and Belknap campuses under one umbrella: UofL’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Establishing a new university-wide Inclusion and Equity Council represents another step. Chaired by Gill and the provost, the council includes one representative from every UofL college and vice-presidential unit, along with several community organizations including the NAACP, Americana World Community Center, Asia Institute Crane House, La Casita Center and the Louisville Urban League. The new 30 person-plus council meets quarterly for the purpose of information sharing, resource collaboration and solution development.��

“It is important that we not work in silos. Through collaboration, we will become more efficient and make a greater impact,” he said.

Gill also is working with the Commission on Diversity and Racial Equity (CODRE) to prioritize the numerous recommendations made in the Cardinal Anti-Racism Agenda (CARA) report that will help move the university’s DEI efforts forward. Additionally, the DEI division has created new positions and repurposed several existing roles to help in the effort.

The charge to the team is to launch new diversity training modules for faculty and staff utilizing the (IDI) and . This innovative diversity training strategy will be led by Marian Vasser, assistant vice president for inclusive excellence, and 15 individuals from throughout UofL who will become certified trainers in the IDI model. This fall, the President’s Cabinet and the Council of Academic Officers will participate in diversity training exercises with one of the nation’s leading experts in strategic diversity leadership,

The DEI division also is ramping up efforts to reach both current and future students. Through the new Inclusive Excellence Scholars program, Gill is engaging with UofL alumni from various disciplines who will participate in week-long mentoring with students, offering expertise on the global competencies that are needed for workplace success. Similarly, a newly formed Corporate Chief Diversity Officer Advisory Board includes chief diversity officers from several regional and national companies to connect with students for mentorship, internships and co-ops.

Other efforts to impact future Cardinals involves a partnership with Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) to host the Explore Pathways event this fall, providing more than 1,000 JCPS students, many of whom are Pell Grant eligible, an opportunity to explore education and career options. The one-day event at Cardinal Stadium will provide youth a chance to visit with UofL colleges and unit representatives.

Among the most intensive DEI effort will be the new Cardinals Rising initiative, a program open to all, that will reach young men of color in grades 7-12. Organized by Brandyn Bailey and Daquarius Mahone in the DEI office, Cardinals Rising collaborates with local middle and high schools. Counselors from each of the schools will help identify youth who would benefit from this program.

“The earlier we can reach young people, the more impact we can have. These are bright students, but their energies may be misapplied. We want to invest, pour into them and help them understand they can be anything they dream to become,” Gill said.

The program aims to bring youth to campus, introducing them to the college-going culture, along with involvement of their parent or guardian who also will have opportunities to learn about financial literacy and financial wellness, educational advancement and careers. Parents and guardians will sign an agreement, committing to help their child succeed by encouraging their studies and building life skills, along with becoming immersed themselves in the Cardinals Rising program. The DEI division is in process of seeking grant funding to help support this initiative.

“Cardinals Rising will change the lives of the students and create a ripple effect that will impact the entire family toward generational wealth. UofL will be a leader in graduating first–generation, Pell-eligible students,” Gill said.

As part of UofL’s dedication to make college affordable, the Cardinal Commitment Grant, previously available only to Pell-eligible students, is now offered as two versions in order to extend the offer to students with financial need who do not qualify for a Pell Grant. The first is need-based aid with a $1,000-$5,000 award amount and the second is a 100% Tuition Coverage award.

“Increasing access to education is important to UofL, and this expanded grant will help bridge the financial gap for students to attend college,” said President Kim Schatzel. “We hope this grant helps clear the path for more Kentucky students to earn a degree without the stress of a heavy financial burden.”

The Cardinal Commitment Grant Need-Based Aid $1,000-$5,000 award is available to incoming Kentucky freshmen with a 3.25 GPA who have been admitted to UofL full-time and have a demonstrated financial need based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Cardinal Commitment Grant 100% tuition coverage award is available to incoming Kentucky freshmen with a 3.25 GPA who have been admitted to UofL full-time and are eligible for a Pell��Grant��based on the FAFSA.

The grant is renewable for students who continue to meet��Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. However, the award amount is locked for renewed years, regardless of changes to a student’s state or federal aid.

Eligible students should����by May 1 to be considered for the Cardinal Commitment Grant. Additional details on the scholarship are available at��.

Green stepped into the newly created position following a six-year run as principal of Central High School. The executive director of undergraduate programs position was created to support the success of all students in the college, with particular focus on first-generation and Pell-eligible students. In his new role, Green will mentor current and prospective students throughout their UofL experience to ensure successful completion of an undergraduate degree and entry into the workforce or a graduate program. UofL News had the chance to talk to Green about his return to campus and his objectives in the new role.��

UofL News: Tell us about your path to UofL … and back?

Raymond Green: I was born and raised in Louisville. I love the city and our region. I went to Central High School, where I did really well in music. I had a couple of scholarship opportunities around the state, one being at the University of Louisville, which is where I did my undergraduate studies. I had a great time as an undergraduate in the UofL School of Music, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in music education.

From there, I started teaching in the Jefferson County Public Schools at Central High School and Seneca High School. Then my wife and I decided we wanted to move to Houston, Texas. We lived in Houston for a year and we learned there are two seasons in Houston: summer and January.

So, we moved back to Louisville. My principal at the time saw something in me and encouraged me to pursue my master’s in administration – and my wife encouraged me to do that as well. So I earned my master’s degree in education administration from the UofL College of ����ֱ�� and Human Development.

Immediately I got a job as assistant principal at Meyzeek Middle School, where I spent three years. Then the principalship at Central High School – my alma mater – came open. I won that job and was principal at Central for six years. I had a lot of great experiences and was able to do a lot of great things there.

Then this opportunity at UofL came along to work at the College of Business leading the undergraduate program. It’s been a great journey from Central as a student to Central as principal and now back to the University of Louisville.

UofL is a special place. It is, as Neeli says, a great place to work, learn and invest. I think that has always been true, but she was wise enough as our president to conceptualize it. More importantly, the university changes lives; education changes lives. It did that for me and now I want to be able to do that for other young people.

UofL News: What is one of your most memorable moments as a student at UofL?

Raymond Green: I had so many great moments! As an undergraduate student – maybe in 2002 – I was in the marching band, which as we know, plays at the Kentucky Derby every year. This particular year, Wynton Marsalis was a guest musician with the marching band. In between races, he said, ‘Are there any tuba players who can lay down some B-flat blues?’

I said, ‘I can lay down some B-flat blues!’

He just so happened to have his spoons player with him and all of a sudden, the infield turned into this New Orleans street jam with Wynton Marsalis, the spoons player and me. That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As a doctoral student, I had the great opportunity to present at University Council for ����ֱ��al Administration with several colleagues. That was my first taste of representing the city and the university on a national and global level. We presented the paper in the same room with New York University, Vanderbilt and Ohio State. That was my first taste getting to represent UofL as a Research I university. That really made me proud.

UofL News: How did UofL prepare you for success after graduation?

Raymond Green: Aside from receiving a world-class education in the classroom, I would say it was the diversity. The university does an incredible job of being proactive in trying to be inclusive and recognizing that the world is greater than the demographics of our city. Louisville is pretty diverse, but the university is even more diverse. So as a principal at Central, when I had 30 languages spoken at my school, that was comfortable for me because I had been in a similar environment at the university.

UofL News: How did being a UofL Cardinal Ambassador influence your life and career path?

Raymond Green: Being a Cardinal Ambassador was awesome! It was work-study, and in college you need money, so it was good for that. Also, it was good work experience in building people skills and learning how to be an ambassador and how to promote the school. It gave me the chance to see the university through the eyes of a potential student and that really translated for me down the road. As a principal, I had to be an ambassador for Central and say, ‘Let me tell you why you need to come to Central,’ and ‘Let me share with you all the wonderful things about my school.’

Beyond that, being a student ambassador allowed me to see parts of the university that I never would have seen as an undergraduate tuba player. It broadened my horizons to know all of the programs and degrees that are offered here. It also instilled pride in the university a little bit more.

UofL News: What did you learn from your time at Central and Meyzeek that will help you guide students to and through UofL?

Raymond Green: Dr. Mooradian, our dean, is a great visionary. I think it is a brilliant move on his part to hire a high school principal from the public school system – whether it was me or someone else – to oversee undergraduate programs. We want to ensure that our first-generation students have access, opportunity and support. We want to make sure that our Pell-eligible students have access, opportunity and support. Coming from the public K-12 world, I know first-hand the challenges and hurdles that first-gen and Pell-eligible students will have.

From the university side, we can start to build systems and programs that will remove barriers and seek to identify talented students who just need a shot. Who is the kid that just needs an opportunity and, once we give them that opportunity, is going to shine like the sun?

UofL News: What do you hope to accomplish first as Executive Director of Undergraduate Programs in the College of Business?

Raymond Green: I want to talk to the students – listen to the students – and talk to the faculty. As a principal, I was at my best when I listened to the students and the faculty. That leadership lesson applies here as well, particularly being brand new to higher ed. My job first and foremost is to serve the students. Secondarily – maybe 1-A – is to serve the faculty. If I do that, the learners will win.

The first thing I want to do is ask, ‘How can we support you? You picked us and we picked you. How can we support you to graduation? How can we support you to find a career that you are going to be passionate about and going to be successful in and thrive?’

Once I feel I have a good handle on that, we will start building out programs to increase our diversity and our enrollment into the College of Business.

UofL News: How do you plan to help first-generation and Pell-eligible students navigate the social and academic challenges of attending college?

Raymond Green: We had a great opportunity at Central High School for the last two years where we piloted a program called the Cardinal Bridge Academy, where we looked for students who knew they wanted to study business at the university, particularly seniors in high school. Then we offered them the CIS 205 course – one of the first courses every business student takes – as a dual credit course online. Once the student successfully passed that course, that counted as their admission to the university. There are many students who have a 3.5 GPA and a subpar ACT score, but by completing this course, they just demonstrated that they can do collegiate level work at a high level. To us in the College of Business, that is enough. We are not going to let the ACT be a barrier to admission.

We want to take this program that has proven to be successful at Central and expand it to other schools and even surrounding counties. I believe we are sitting on a surplus of talent and we want to say, ‘Where is that talent, who are the children who need a shot?’ I wouldn’t be where I am today without higher education and I firmly believe that higher education is the ticket.

UofL News: What will be key in getting every student across the stage with a diploma?

Raymond Green: A few things. One is community. Students need community, a sense of belonging, a sense of ownership, a sense that, ‘I belong here. I am a Cardinal business student.’ I think back to my time as an undergraduate. I was so proud to be part of the tuba studio in the School of Music. There was a lot of identity baked into that.

It’s also important that we have academic acceleration and academic support for our students. It’s crucial that we support them academically as they progress through school.

We need to make sure we provide an incredible return on investment for our learners and give them drive and motivation so they can stay focused from semester to semester, year to year, and make it all the way to graduation.

It’s recruiting and admissions; it’s also advising and job placement. And if not job placement, then I know Vernon Foster wants them in the MBA program, so my job is to go get kids, make sure we support them while they are here, and then guide them to a great job or a great path to the MBA program.

UofL News: What else would you like to share?

Raymond Green: I am humbled, I am thrilled, I am honored to join the university in this capacity. I believe in the leadership of our president; I believe in the leadership of our dean and I believe the university is going in a great direction right now. Our best days are ahead of us.