Expanding the Role of Tech's Chief Diversity Officer
January 8, 2010
To the campus community:
As outlined in my earlier message, this past spring I requested that the Office of Organizational Development (OOD) conduct a review of the Office of Diversity. They have now completed their review, with one of their principal recommendations being to expand the scope of the position of vice provost for academic diversity and create a new position of vice president for institutional diversity. This is consistent with the input I received in my conversations with numerous faculty, staff, and student groups this past fall and as a result, we will be moving forward with a national search for this new position immediately.
The vice president for institute diversity will be a full-time position and will have oversight for all diversity-related matters at Georgia Tech. This individual will report directly to the Office of the President and will serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet, in order to ensure that diversity is represented at the highest levels of the Institute. Once we have completed this search and have a vice president in place, that individual can review the other OOD recommendations with the staff within the Office of Diversity and determine how to move forward.
Because this is a full-time position Dr. Gilda Barabino has expressed a desire to step down from her position as interim vice provost for academic diversity and return to her teaching and research, and her role as associate chair for graduate studies in the Department of Biomedical Engineering effective January 15, 2010. This will also allow her to focus on a number of grant opportunities that have deadlines this spring. In the interim, however, Dr. Barabino will continue to be a strong advocate for diversity nationally and at Georgia Tech, directing special initiatives related to broadening the participation and success of underrepresented faculty and students.
I am deeply appreciative of Dr. Barabino for her efforts to establish the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Diversity and to serve as the inaugural vice provost. Her commitment to bring institutional cohesion in the policies, practice, and promotion of our diversity initiatives, along with the wise counsel she has provided as a member of my cabinet, will strongly influence our future direction in this arena. I look forward to continue to work with her as we move forward with the national search.
Regards,
G. P. "Bud" Peterson
President, Georgia Tech
