One of my favorite stories from TJ this week

Check out this story from TJ staffer Monica Kreber about Winthrop's success in graduating African-American students at the same rate as other students.

Winthrop is number one college in the country for its size and type with its retention and graduation rate of African-American students, said Vice President for Student Life Frank Ardaiolo.

This is tremendous news for my university. I'm truly proud to be associated with a school that has committed to ensuring diversity flourishes on campus and sets goals to close the achievement gap.

Winthrop is a campus that prides itself on bringing international students from many countries every semester and recruits American students from all walks of life. Programs sponsored by the university and various clubs teach the importance of equality and equal access to all people.

Of course there are always ways to improve. In my time at Winthrop I've observed fewer African-American faculty members than white faculty members. Our upper administrators seem to typically be white men. Our state, South Carolina, could do better in helping prospective college students who are living in this country illegally find a way to continue their education.

There are various other cross-sections of groups who could use extra attention from the university in ensuring retention and success--the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender population; non-traditional students in terms of age; first-generation college students; students with disabilities.

The list could go on and on but in most of these areas, Winthrop is doing something.

As a college, as a state, as a country we have not created a perfectly-balanced, equal in all ways society but I think Winthrop is a pretty good model for ways we can try.