The Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity (IDE) has been reorganized into two main areas—equity and compliance, and diversity and inclusion, Senior Vice President and Senior Diversity Officer Shontay Delalue announced this week.
The equity and compliance team will address matters related to Title IX—the law that prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs—as well as discrimination and harassment broadly, affirmative action programs, and employee accommodations and appeals related to the Americans With Disabilities Act. The team will be led by Kristi Clemens, who in addition to her role as Title IX coordinator has been named assistant vice president for equity and compliance.
The diversity and inclusion team will be led by Chloe Poston, who joined the IDE staff in July as associate vice president for strategic initiatives. The team supports the Employee Resource Networks program and other diversity programs, consults with academic and administrative units across campus, and enhances training and professional development opportunities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The team will also assist with the development of a comprehensive strategic plan for diversity, building on the existing initiatives—the Campus Climate and Culture Initiative (C3I), Inclusive Excellence, and Moving Dartmouth Forward—that aim to create a more welcoming, inclusive, and equitable learning environment for the Dartmouth community.
The goal of the new structure is to allow IDE to begin to develop a cohesive institutional approach to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus, Delalue says.
Delalue, who began her role in July, says the commitment of the Dartmouth community to diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident.
"I know there is an urgency and excitement to make positive change," she says. "Many issues organizations face do not develop overnight, and it will take time to address the important matters at hand, but in my short time at Dartmouth I've seen that my senior colleagues, the board, faculty, staff, students, and alumni are all passionate about the work we are set to embark on. I am confident we can make progress together."