Founding the Center
The Buford Center for Diversity and Service was dedicated in honor of the late Desmond (Des) V. Buford on Tuesday, April 22, 2008. Serving as the Executive Director of Intercultural Student Services for five years before his sudden passing,
Des dedicated his time to foster a campus environment that acknowledges and respects the value of diversity.
Des was a valued member of the campus community for over twenty years. His deep commitment to students and their academic, social, emotional and cultural development was immediately evident to all who came in contact with him. Des served as an advocate for all students and was always willing to be a resource to anyone with questions relating to diversity. He provided campus-wide programming that sought to bring different people together in order to foster better understanding.
Each week, Des put a quote up on the dry erase board outside his office. The last quote he put up demonstrated his commitment to this belief. That quote was;
“For those who have seen the earth from space, and for the hundred and perhaps thousands more who will, the experience most certainly changes your perspective. The things that we share in our world are far more valuable than those which divide us.”