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/ About / Chief Diversity Officer’s Advisory Board

Chief Diversity Officer’s Advisory Board

The Chief Diversity Officer’s Advisory Board was formed to ensure App State is a welcoming community of scholars who value, respect and embrace diversity throughout the institution.

This board is a working group responsible for assisting the Chief Diversity Officer in designing and implementing strategies that foster the advancement of diversity and inclusion at App State by:

  • Supporting strategic planning efforts as related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Monitoring progress of strategic goals for diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Providing opportunities for the campus community to discuss diversity-related issues and ideas.
  • Gathering feedback from the campus community to inform diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
  • Reviewing initiatives and/or program recommendations from other campus members that are designed to advance diversity goals and making suggestions for efficient achievement of those goals.
  • Providing an annual report with recommendations and progress of strategic goals for diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Collaborating with diversity, equity and inclusion leaders across campus.

Proposals from the Chief Diversity Officer’s Advisory Board

At the charge of Chancellor Sheri Everts, this group developed 14 proposals, listed below, which focus on the recruitment and retention of students, staff and faculty from underrepresented groups. The board presented its proposals to the chancellor in 2015 and they have been consciously explored — many are ongoing or are in progress, and more are under review.

Learn more about App State’s milestones regarding diversity and inclusion.

StatusProposal
OngoingEngage a consultant to provide education to all supervisors on the topic of creating an inclusive campus.
Under reviewImplement a bias incident response process.
OngoingCreate an online search committee compliance module.
OngoingRelated to the item above, another proposal recommended that search committees be provided face-to-face education about the ways implicit bias can affect search processes.
OngoingExpand the exit interview process.
Under reviewCreate a formal mentoring program for students from underrepresented groups.
In progressIncrease awareness of university policies and student conduct processes related to individual and group harassment and discrimination.
OngoingAssess the feasibility of a complete implementation of the holistic review process in admissions. This proposal would expand the breadth of the holistic review process that admissions currently engages in when reviewing applications for incoming students.
OngoingTranslate admissions materials into Spanish and provide informational sessions and campus tours in Spanish catering to families for which Spanish is the primary language in the home. Survey prospective students to assess whether there is a need to provide such services in additional languages.
OngoingFormalize relationships with secondary schools and community-based organizations in areas with a greater density of underrepresented populations.
In progressImplement a strategy that provides access to hair services for students of color.
In progressConduct a campus climate survey every three years and annual focus groups to assess the inclusive nature of the campus.
OngoingIdentify and reward initiatives pertaining to outstanding work in the field of diversity by individual students, faculty and staff, student groups and departments/units on campus.
Under reviewRevamp and restore the faculty fellows program in order to better recruit faculty members with a demonstrated commitment to diversity in their respective areas of study.

2021-22 Board members

  • Dr. Barbara Howard
    Professor of School Administration, Department of Leadership and Educational Studies, Curriculum Specialist Program
  • Cindy Barr
    Associate Vice Chancellor, Enrollment Management
  • Dr. Claudia Cartaya-Marin
    Professor and Department Chair, Department of Chemistry
  • Gabby Dickey
    Assistant Director, Fitness
  • Dr. Greg McClure
    Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
  • Heather Langdon
    Executive Director, Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning
  • Dr. James Douthit
    Dean, Hayes School of Music
  • Jerisha Farrer
    Assistant Director, Intercultural Student Affairs
  • Dr. Kim Hall
    Professor of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy and Religion
  • Lamont Sellers
    Director of Intercultural Student Affairs
  • Dr. Nancy Love
    Professor of Political Science, Department of Government and Justice Studies
  • Dr. Precious Mudiwa
    Professor of School Administration, Department of Leadership and Educational Studies
  • Shakinah Simeona-Lee
    Sr. Associate Director for Diversity Initiatives, Admissions
  • Dr. Sushmita Chatterjee
    Associate Professor of Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Dr. Tammy Wahpeconiah
    Professor, Department of English
  • Dr. Ted Zerucha
    Professor and Director of General Education, Development and Evolution, Department of Biology
  • Terri Lockwood
    Director of Marketing Communications and Inclusion, University College

Contact

Diversity and Inclusion at App State
Jamie Parson, J.D. Chief Diversity Officer
Phone: 828-262-2460
Email us

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