Organizational Changes in Support of Diversity Goals (January, 2007)To: Fairfield University Community From: Mark C. Reed, Vice President for Student Affairs Re: Organizational Changes in Support of Diversity Goals The advancement and promotion of diversity figure prominently in the strategic vision and plan of Fairfield University. Additionally, these objectives are grounded in and integral to Fairfield's Jesuit and Catholic mission. Over the past several years, Fairfield University has undertaken several initiatives in support of diversity. I am pleased today to announce organizational changes that support our shared vision for diversity at Fairfield. These changes take effect immediately. The Center for Multicultural Relations will become home to two offices. The first will be the Office of Institutional Diversity Initiatives, and the second will be the Office of Student Diversity Programs. The center will remain the central place on campus that it has been, but it will be home to two offices that will be distinct units and have newly defined roles and responsibilities. Larri W. Mazon, currently the director of the center and reporting to the Dean of Students, will assume the title of Director of Institutional Diversity Initiatives and report directly to me. Larri will continue to chair the Institutional Diversity Council reporting to the President. Larri and his office will oversee and take the lead role in the development and implementation of diversity initiatives that are broad-based and primarily serve or impact the institution as a whole. In addition, two TRIO programs – Academic Talent Search and Upward Bound – will report through the Office of Institutional Diversity Initiatives. Additional staff in this office will include an operations assistant, graduate assistant, and several program and support staff involved with the TRIO programs. William Johnson, currently in the Office of Undergraduate Admission, will assume the newly established and joint position of Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission for Diversity and Director of Student Diversity Programs. He will report to both Dr. Thomas C. Pellegrino, Dean of Students, and Karen A. Pellegrino, Director of Undergraduate Admission. Joining Will in the new Office of Student Diversity Programs will be La'Kicia (Kish) Fuller as Assistant Director of Student Diversity Programs, an operations assistant, and graduate assistant. Several factors influenced the decision to make these organizational changes. First, an analysis of other colleges and universities showed that this model is a common and successful one. Second, the Center for Multicultural Relations was originally established to provide services and support to AHANA students. Over time, the center also became the home for broader institutional initiatives and programs, and most recently became the home of two TRIO programs. The time had come to reevaluate the assignment and distribution of responsibilities. Third, after the President's Institutional Diversity Council – chaired by Larri Mazon – was established, the role of the director of the center had changed. Fourth, a unique opportunity presented itself to create synergy between the recruitment and admission of students of diverse backgrounds and the programs and services that support these students once they are on campus and help to integrate diversity into residential life, student activities, and the first-year experience program for the student body as a whole. Finally, these organizational changes could be implemented quickly, efficiently, and almost entirely through the reallocation of existing resources. I look forward to working more closely with Larri Mazon and Dr. Orin Grossman, Academic Vice President, on institutional diversity initiatives and the work of the President's Institutional Diversity Council. I am also very pleased to welcome Will Johnson to the Division of Student Affairs and am confident that these organizational changes, combined with the talent and hard work of the people in place, will yield positive results for the entire Fairfield University community. Happy New Year! (A copy of this announcement is available at http://www.fairfield.edu/sl_vpcommunications.html.) MCR/eb |
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