Finalist for Associate VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to visit campus in March
KCJJ Staff
02/26/19
After a rash of departures from University of Iowa leadership over a short time a few years ago, campus leaders are closing in on filling another one of those positions.
Four public forums have been scheduled for next month for the finalists to be the next UI associate vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The first of those will take place March 7 and the last is scheduled for March 25.
The UI has been without someone in the role full-time since Georgina Dodge left to take a position at Bucknell University in July 2017. Lena Hill was then named interim chief diversity officer but left the UI shortly thereafter to take a new job at Washington and Lee University. Vice president for student life Melissa Shivers was then assigned to the position, which she still holds.
The position was rebranded last fall from chief diversity officer to an associate vice president with the additional roles to – according to UI President Bruce Harreld – “shift the paradigm” of the office to encompass equity and inclusion in the day-to-day actions and culture of the university.
Members of a search committee say they wanted to improve the campus climate and address fairness on the campus.
A 12-person committee has been working with Boston-based consultants Isaacson-Miller to identify candidates for the position. The name of each candidate will be released one day ahead of each candidate’s campus visit.