"There is no more fertile ground for innovation than a diversity of experience. And that diversity of experience arises from a difference of cultures, ethnicities, and life backgrounds. A successful scientific endeavor is one that attracts a diversity of experience, draws upon the breadth and depth of that experience, and cultivates those differences, acknowledging the creativity they spark."
- Professor Joseph M. DeSimone

This quote reflects our beliefs: Innovation is a social process and diversity plays a key role in that process.  Diversity is not simply “throwing together” a diverse group.  To harness the power of diversity we need to encourage contributions from everyone. Our ongoing leadership workshop aims to provide students with the confidence to participate fully and the tools to recognize our differences and to build upon those differences to improve output of collaborative efforts.

Diversity is an integral dimension of our Center—not only diversity in race and gender but diversity of thought, skills, and discipline.  In our view diversity is a driver that can accelerate successful innovation.  While brilliant ideas come from individuals, innovation requires diversity.  We seek to elicit the benefits of diversity by recognizing differences and providing communication skills to bridge and capitalize on differences. 

Encourage members of underrepresented groups (URG) to seek and succeed in research careers in science and engineering by focusing on K-20 outreach, mentoring and recruiting

Enhance the support network for URG students on STC campuses

Provide students and faculty with tools to recognize, understand and employ diverse styles

in order to help build a diverse workforce and harness the power of diversity to accelerate and enhance the innovation process.

Means to achieve these objectives include:

providing support to K-12 outreach programs, especially those targeting URGs
	actively recruiting from those groups to fill STC positions
	providing research linkages between Georgia Tech, NCSU and UNC-CH with NCA&TSU to encourage students to seek PhDs in engineering and science
	providing support for NCA&T to strengthen its chemical engineering programs providing research experiences and mentoring to undergraduate students through REUs, SPGRE (Summer Pre-Graduate Research Experiences, EXPERT (EXperimental Program in Education and Research Training) at NCA&TSU and similar outreach programs
	providing a climate in which diversity is valued and contributes to innovation