The Department of Linguistics is professionally committed to preparing our students for a life in a multilingual, multicultural world. Our program fosters an academic environment that is designed to enable all students to develop to their full potential, one in which diverse backgrounds and worldviews are respected and valued, including (but not limited to) diversity in racial, socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, educational background, sexual orientation, and gender identity. We also believe that such diversity should be supported by fostering the academic engagement of members of communities that, for various reasons, are not well-represented in the field of linguistics. We are guided by the principle that such diversity enriches the intellect and empowers the mind. Through mutual understanding and recognition of our diverse experiences, we strive to create an environment that encourages and supports not only individuality, but individual innovation and creativity.