Wayne State University and its Office of Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with Accenture, a global services and consulting company, are taking part in extensive training and strategic planning aimed at improving the framework and outcomes of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives throughout campus for students, faculty, staff and  Wayne State stakeholders.

In early September, Accenture began a 3-month engagement working with the university’s DEI Council to develop an agenda for achieving the best possible results in planning, practice and implementation. The initiative has already led to a more focused approach of Wayne State’s DEI work.

“I truly appreciate the partnership we’ve built with Accenture around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts at Wayne State, particularly the work Nahomie Louis, a senior manager with the company, has done with our DEI Council,” said Marquita Chamblee, associate provost for diversity and inclusion and Wayne State’s chief diversity officer. “Nahomie has helped us sharpen our vision of what we want DEI to ‘look like’ on our campus and devise strategies for bringing to life the recommendations of the Social Justice Action Committee. It is a pleasure to collaborate with her on this important work.”

Of particular importance to this partnership is the refining of policies and procedures led by the DEI Council to further support the council’s campus priorities.

“Wayne State University is an important community anchor in the heart of Detroit with some of the most diverse talent in Michigan. At Accenture, diversity and inclusion is a business imperative. It drives innovation, creativity and brings the best thinking to our toughest problems,” said Lisa Cawley, managing director and Michigan public service account lead at Accenture. “We need people who bring their unique perspectives and skills to the table to meet the demands of today’s digital economy. We’re proud to partner with Dr. Chamblee and the DEI Council on our shared commitment to accelerating equality for all in our community.” 

Accenture has engaged in this DEI partnership process with Wayne State at no cost to the university.

About Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 25,000 students. Through its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world.

About Accenture
For more than 65 years, Accenture has been proud to call Michigan home. We care deeply about what we do and the impact we have because we work and live here. We have over 1,000 employees in Michigan serving clients across many industries including health, public service, industrial, resources, financial services, and products. We are committed to driving innovation, with four Innovation Hub locations across the state. And, at the core of our teams, we believe in supporting the community through our over $600,000 in employee donations and pro bono work, and commitment to building the Detroit workforce through apprenticeship and skilling programs.