Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Update

Dear Colleagues:

We are writing with a brief update on the status of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at UM-Flint. We have made steady progress toward advancing our DEI Strategic Action Plan (SAP) A Call to Action: Pursuing Excellence through Inclusion and Equity since it was first announced this past October. During this time, we rolled out the DEI Initiative Grants program and have been accepting great proposals about DEI/RRG initiatives on our campus; we supported the development of the Success Peer Mentoring Program and Residential Learning Communities focused on DEI; and we are engaging in work to build better pipelines for Flint students to UM-Flint. To learn more about the work that is currently underway, and a listing of initiatives with corresponding timelines, please visit the DEI website.

Recently, the search for UM-Flint’s first Chief Diversity Officer was successfully completed. We are happy to share that, effective April 5, Dr. David Luke will transition from his role as Interim Campus Diversity Officer and Director of the Intercultural Center into the position of Chief Diversity Officer (CDO). Dr. Luke earned a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Kentucky and is a registered Certified Public Accountant (CPA). In addition to his practical work in DEI, much of his published scholarship focuses on issues of DEI, including a mixed-methods study examining the factors that influence black student enrollments and completions in Historically White Colleges and Universities (HWCUs).

In his expanded role as CDO, Dr. Luke will provide overall leadership for a comprehensive approach to building a vibrant culture of DEI at UM-Flint and also have oversight of the Intercultural Center (ICC). The CDO role will have a dual reporting structure to the Chancellor (for campus-wide implementation of the DEI SAP) and to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (for direct oversight of the Intercultural Center).

The CDO will oversee the newly-created Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI), institutionalizing our commitment to, and providing an administrative location for, organizing and advancing our DEI efforts. ODEI will be co-located with the Urban Institute for Racial, Economic and Environmental Justice and share administrative support. This synergy will work to give voice to and address emergent issues of race, equity, inclusion and social justice within the university and local community, and nationally as they affect the university.

As CDO, Dr. Luke will maintain direct oversight of the Intercultural Center (ICC) with the assistance of a program manager. After a successful search process, we are happy to share that on April 5, LaQwana Dockery will begin in the new role of ICC Program Manager. She will oversee a team of student interns and be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the ICC. LaQwana holds masters’ degrees in social work and higher education, both from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where she worked for the Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR).

Please join us in congratulating David and LaQwana as they begin in their new roles!

Questions about this new structure may be directed to Dr. Luke at [email protected].

Sincerely,