VP, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer

Working closely with the President, deans and other senior leaders, diversity professionals across divisions, and key campus constituencies, the Vice President will lead in creating and implementing a University-wide diversity strategic plan that includes recruitment, training, communication, policy, and metrics. The Vice President will work with campus diversity leaders to ensure integration of this strategy with principled compliance with federally-mandated civil rights and anti-discrimination and equity laws. The Vice President will identify and pursue opportunities to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment and engage the campus in living the University’s Vision and Values Statement.

The Vice President will serve as a core member of the President’s leadership team, addressing the strategic issues that come before that group, providing vision and advice to the President on diversity and social justice matters, communication strategies, allocation of resources, and crisis management. The Vice President will chair the established University Diversity and Equity Council. The Vice President will also represent campus priorities, values, and projects to peer institutions and beyond in national and international venues dedicated to addressing higher education’s role in social justice, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, restoration, reconciliation, and accessibility efforts. The Vice President will work with others across campus to support the many ongoing efforts to promote campus-community engagement.

Working with the Vice President for Communications, the Vice President will also play a key role in the coordination of campus responses to emerging local, national, or global events that affect the experience of students, faculty, and staff from diverse groups and populations, and stewarding relationships with external academic communities with which the University interacts. The Vice President will work to ensure equity and fairness in partnerships with all local, state, and national organizations.

In collaboration with direct reports and other relevant constituents, the Vice President will assess the effectiveness of the current organizational structure and make improvements where needed. The Vice President will hire integral members of staff and ensure the empowerment, professional development, and mentorship of existing staff.

• Kathy Gallucci, CHRO and Committee Chair
• Curtis Johnson, Board of Trustees
• Jack Bailey, Secretary to the Board of Trustees
• Sheniece Griffin, DNP, RN, CNL, URMC Nursing Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Norma Holland, Director of Public Relations and Engagement, Office of Equity and Inclusion
• Mitchell Wharton, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, CNS, ACRN, , SON Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion
• Sarah Peyre, EdD, Dean, Warner School of Education
• Beth Olivares, Dean for Diversity in Arts, Sciences and Engineering
• Kaitlin Legg, Assistant Director of Special Projects for the College, AS&E Dean’s Office; AS&E District Representative, Genesee Staff Council
• Crystal Sellers Battle, DMA, Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion
• Shafaqat Rahman, PhD candidate Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Telva Olivares, MD, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
• Ferralita Madere, PhD. Candidate, Department of Microbiology and Immunology