UNF Recognized as one of the ‘Best of the Best’ Universities For LGBTQ+ Students By Campus Pride
The University of North Florida is proud to be recognized as one of the “Best of the Best” colleges and universities by Campus Pride for creating a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff.
UNF is the only university in Florida that received this recognition and one of only 40 campuses recognized nationwide.
UNF achieved the highest ranking on the Campus Pride Index (CPI), the definitive national benchmarking tool measuring LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs, practices, safety, inclusiveness and resources on campus for LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff.
UNF’s LGBTQ Center, founded in 2006, is committed to advocacy, equality, community and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and allied students, faculty, and staff at the University of North Florida while also engaging the greater Jacksonville community to create a more inclusive society beyond the campus.
The LGBTQ Center is ranked the #1 LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges & Universities in Florida and #8 in the overall South in 2021 and 2020 by Campus Pride and holds the Rainbow Award for Best Equality Organization in Jacksonville in 2021.
Manny Velasquez-Paredes, LGBTQ Center director, was recently named the “Most Influential Person Award” in 2022 from the Rainbow Awards JAX by Jax Gay magazine for his work throughout the LGBTQ+ community, received the LGBTQ+ Leadership Award by the Florida Diversity Council in 2021 and holds the National Latino Leader Award by the Council for Latino Workplace equity in 2021.
Campus Pride is the preeminent resource for LGBTQ+ leadership development, diversity inclusion and advocacy within higher education. Read more at Campus Pride’s 2022 BEST OF THE BEST Colleges & Universities.