Distributed April 10, 2003
For Immediate Release

News Service Contact: Mark Nickel



Brown begins national search for senior institutional diversity officer

Brown University has established a new position with overall responsibility for all programs of institutional diversity. The new position – associate provost and director of institutional diversity – will be part of the president’s cabinet and will work closely with the president, provost and other senior officers. President Ruth J. Simmons is chairing the 17-member selection committee.


PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Brown University President Ruth J. Simmons has begun a national search to fill a newly created position that will have overall responsibility for institutional diversity. Diversity is one of the key elements in the University’s multiyear Initiatives for Academic Enrichment.

“Institutional diversity is far more than a matter of numbers; it is an inseparable part of the University’s core activities and institutional mission,” Simmons said. “By establishing this new position, the University intends to ensure that the benefits of diversity, broadly defined, will enrich all our programs, from faculty and students in the classroom to campus life and throughout the entire workforce.”

The new associate provost and director of institutional diversity is a cabinet-level position, working closely with Simmons and Provost Robert Zimmer, as well as with other senior officers of the administration. The director will be responsible for formulating and overseeing the University’s policies related to diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion and national origin. The position will also provide creative leadership to assure effective recruitment and retention of faculty, students, and staff of diverse identities and will serve as a key University voice on diversity issues before community organizations, alumni and campus constituencies, public media, and other groups.

The national search will be conducted by a 17-member selection committee, which Simmons herself will chair. In addition to Simmons, the committee will include:

  • two Corporation representatives: Laura Geller (trustee) and Theodore Parrish (chair, Corporation Committee on Minority Affairs);
  • six faculty members: Andrew Campbell (biology and medicine), Rey Chow (modern culture and media), Lina Fruzzetti (anthropology), Evelyn Hu-DeHart (Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity), Robert Lee (American civilization), and Robert Pelcovits (physics);
  • six students: Myriam Chicon ’04, Rahim Kurji ’05, Yara Lorenzo ’05, Kenneth Newberg ’05, Curtiland Deville (M.D. ’04), and graduate student Terrence Johnson (religious studies);
  • two administrators: Blanca Del Cid (Office of Student Life) and David Greene (Office of the President/Office of Campus Life).

The search committee will begin its review of applications immediately and will continue its work until a director is appointed. Inquiries, nominations and applications should be sent to Director of Institutional Diversity / Office of the President / Box 1860 / Brown University / Providence, RI 02912.

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