HSPH’s Office of Diversity hosts open house

With jazz in the background and pizza and empanadas set out on the table, it was an inviting scene at the Harvard School of Public Health’s Office of Diversity open house on September 13, 2012. Throughout the day, a steady stream of students came to meet the staff and learn about the variety of programs offered by the office.

It was a special occasion, to be sure, but the Office of Diversity is actually an “open house” all year long. Inside the converted triple-decker at 35 Wigglesworth St., across the street from the main campus, there’s a conference room and study area with computers, Wi-Fi access, and coffee, tea, and popcorn. The cozy and comfortable space is open to everyone in the HSPH community, said Dale Trevino, who has directed the office since it opened three years ago.

“The office is here for anybody—faculty, staff, or students—who wants to engage in dialogue about differences,” said Trevino. “It’s also a place to study, an alternative to Kresge.”