UNITAS History
Unitas was created in 1997 by Professor Twitty Styles, Dr. Constance Glasgow, Professor Carl George, and Gail George. Friends for many years, these two couples decided to continue their educational committment too Union College by contributing seed moneyto establish a new all-campus movement to increase diversity and to encourage a sesne of community. Joined by President Roger Hull, Vice-President Dan West and Vice-President Linda Cool in this endeavor, they raised funds from alumni and received a matching grant from President Hull to create an interest-yielding endowment for Unitas. At their retirement ceremony from Union College's Biology Department, Professors Styles and George announced the founding of Unitas as their gift to the College.
Since 1997, Unitas solicits and reviews applications from students, faculty, staff and alumni. Lectures, artistic peformances, student research and study programs, wortkshops, library aquisitions, luncheons and receptions are just a few of the activities suppported in the past. For example, Unitas sponsored the performances and seminars given by a family of Balinese dancers and musicians in 2003, who worked with college classes and student groups on campus during their week-long stay at Union. Recently, Unitas hosted a Homecoming Weekend series of events, including an Alumni Diversity Career Panel and an honarary dinner for winners of the Unitas Alumni Diversity Service Awards. The events and educational opportunities sponsored by Unitas emphasize building brodges among the diverse constituencies of Union College, and successful grants are often given to groups that collaborate to build these bridges.