Holy Names University is now No. 1 in the West in Racial Diversity according to US News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2008 Edition. HNU has been ranked third in the West for the past three years but now has an index of 0.72. HNU enjoys a healthy mixture of African-American, white, Latino, Asian-American and Native American students, plus a growing population of International students. Only one school in the country, Rutgers from Newark, NJ, has a higher diversity index – 0.73. La Sierra University (CA) also has a 0.72 index with 31% Hispanic students. HNU’s leading group is African-American students at 33%. HNU is ranked among Universities – Master’s, which includes three institutions with a 0.70 index: California State Poly University, Pomona; California State University, Dominguez Hills; and California State University, East Bay. Ranked in first place in other regions of the country in racial diversity are: North, CUNY-City College; South, University of North Carolina, Pembroke; and Midwest, Northeastern Illinois University. The America’s Best Colleges report explained that, “College-bound students interested in studying with people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds will want to consider student body diversity when choosing a school. Rosemarie Nassif, SSND, PhD, president of Holy Names University, welcomed the news of the university’s top ranking and noted that “Our students learn that diverse ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, lifestyles and nationalities are not barriers but rather priceless assets. Harvard Law School conducted a study around the question, ‘Does Diversity Matter in the Classroom?’ Their results indicate that learning in a diverse and inclusive environment delivers three advantages: 1. Reduces stereotypes; 2. Broadens perspectives, and 3. Deepens critical thinking skills.”