UConn’s Supplier Diversity Program (V. Cook – middle) has been an active planner and participant in NAEP Supplier Diversity Institutes since 2007. Volunteerism includes representing UConn on the NAEP DEI Committee for 4 years (co-chairing its 2nd year) and the Supplier Diversity Sub-Committee (co-chairing); participating in an interview in one article and co-authoring another (Spring 2023) for NAEP’s Procurement Journal; and serving as a subject matter expert on panels for Fusion Sessions during covid years when sessions could not be held in person, as well as being a panelist and co-facilitating, respectively, during the first two years back in person at NAEP’s Annual Meetings.
The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes those individuals who have gone above and beyond in service of NAEP and our members. This year’s awardees not only meet that definition, but also have done so when the demand in their offices has been at an all-time high. Their dedication to serving others is exceptional.
The University of Connecticut is committed to providing a professionally inclusive environment within which small and historically-underutilized diverse businesses are encouraged to participate in our procurement experience. We are requesting that those contracting with us also partner with this commitment to inclusion; and to highlight the inclusive procurement practices of those we are contracting with, we are collecting Tier 2 utilization data using this brief survey.
UConn is being honored for its commitment to economic inclusion in ensuring that companies operated by members of underrepresented populations receive adequate access and information to compete for University contracts.
UConn is one of nine institutions nationwide to receive the inaugural Jesse L. Moore 2021 Supplier Diversity Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and only print publication focusing on diversity and inclusion in higher education. Read More on UConn Today
The USDP Team consisting of Veronica F. Cook, Executive Program Director (right) and Victoria H. Novak, Administrative Services Specialist II (left) proudly represented the University of Connecticut and UConn Health at this year’s Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC) Annual Expo and Conference, held at MGM Springfield in Springfield, Massachusetts.
This annual signature event was attended by a diverse gathering of GNEMSDC Corporate Members, Sponsors, and MBE’s from the six (6) New England States: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, as well as California
