People of SU

President Part of Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Ed

July 26, 2023

Portrait of Eduardo Peñalver on campus.

President Eduardo Peñalver is one of 100 university leaders nationwide to participate in the summit, presented by the U.S. Department of Education, covering topics including college admissions, affordability, equity and diversity and more.

On July 26, the U.S. Department of Education hosted the National Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, a one-day summit in Washington, D.C., that brought together senior Biden-Harris Administration officials with educational institutions, leaders and students to discuss strategies and resources to expand higher education access in the wake of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action. President Peñalver is one of 100 university leaders nationwide to participate.

“I was pleased to join in this important conversation with higher education leaders and the Department of Education,” President Peñalver says. “In light of the recent Supreme Court decision, it is more important than ever for universities to recommit ourselves to creating and sustaining diverse academic communities. Today’s summit was an important opportunity for us to share experiences and to discuss ways to move forward.”

President Peñalver has shared Seattle University's commitment to ensure access and equity when it comes to our student body and campus community as a whole.

On the day of the ruling the university released this statement and President Peñalver co-authored an opinion piece in The Hill on "How the First Amendment can save affirmative action."