About Us

The President's Message

I want to take this opportunity to again state unequivocally that the University of Hartford strongly condemns all forms of discrimination, bias, racism, bigotry, and hate. Our Values Statement underscores our commitment to diversity and inclusion. The statement is designed to be both descriptive and aspirational. It is who we are and who we aspire to be. The University of Hartford continues to work on creating a welcoming, safe, and supportive community for all students, staff, and faculty. We need to talk to each other and listen to each other. We need to recognize, acknowledge, and then work to eradicate inequity and injustice.

Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement

Christine Grant

As Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement, Christine reports to the President of the University. In this role, she works collaboratively with institutional leadership, departments and unit heads, along with other stakeholders to proactively embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice strategic goals, programming, and initiatives in all areas of the University, while fostering and affirming a campus culture of equity and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff.

She serves as Co-Chair for the President’s Steering Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Co-Chair of the President’s Community Advisory Council.

Christine Grant has been with the University for over 26 years. A member of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE), Grant holds a M.A. in Organizational Development from the University of Hartford, and a B.S. from the University of Bridgeport.

Special Assistant to the President for LGBTQ+ Issues

Jane Horvath

Jane Horvath is associate professor of economics and directs the economics and political economy programs for the College of Arts & Sciences. In that capacity she oversees the curriculum for the BA in economics and in political economy, serves as academic advisor to majors and minors in the two programs, and oversees the programs in collaboration with her colleagues in the Department of Politics and Government in the College of Arts & Sciences and with the economists in the Department of Economics, Finance, and Insurance in the Barney School of Business.

Horvath joined the faculty of the University of Hartford in 1985. She earned the Ph.D. in economics from the University of Connecticut in 1986, with a specialization in economic development. Her research interests include economic development, teaching economics and pedagogy, and complexity economics.

In addition to teaching the Principles of Economics sequence, she teaches Economic Development and Gender, Complexity Economics, Hunger: Problems of Scarcity and Choice, and Sources of Power.

President's Steering Committee

The President’s Steering Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, comprised of faculty, staff, and students, is charged with responsibility for leading, advocating, and assisting in the coordination of university-wide efforts to realize diversity initiatives and foster inclusive excellence. Specific responsibilities include supporting efforts to recruit and retain diverse populations of students, faculty, and staff; monitoring and supporting expansion of diversity of content in all academic programs; and developing plans for ongoing assessment of efforts pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the University. Members of this committee the committee will examine all current and new University policies to ensure they equitably affect students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds.

Our Initiatives