Schooling Dr. Richard Friend helped to create some of the earliest diversity initiatives in U.S. public schools more than 20 years ago, when he was on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. Friend & Associates has remained at the forefront of this field, teaching educators how to foster a climate where all students, teachers and staff can achieve. One of our tools is the groundbreaking "School Diversity Inventory," which Friend co-authored in order to help school leaders identify resources and areas for improvement with respect to creating a climate of inclusiveness. Building on this and other assessment tools, we help educators understand the conditions that enable diversity to thrive and the practices that sustain an atmosphere of inclusiveness. BACK