Spring 2011 - The University of Akron

cAmPUS NewS
UA’s Diversity Council Among Top 25 in Nation
The University of Akron has one of the best 25 diversity councils in
the nation.
Joining UA on the elite list are such major corporations as Best
Buy, Boeing, Prudential, American Airlines and Siemens. UA is
the only university to make the list. The list was compiled by the
Association of Diversity Councils from applications submitted by
corporations, governmental agencies and universities nationwide.
Lee Gill, UA’s associate vice president for inclusion and equity/
chief diversity officer, said the University was selected because of the
concrete steps it has taken to move toward being a more inclusive
campus.
“I’m told that two points stood out in our application,” Gill said.
“First, our council is comprised of decision makers from across
campus and the Akron community, which demonstrates a strong
commitment by the administration. Second, the strategic plan for the
Office of Inclusion and Equity is comprehensive and unusual in its
reach and its depth.”
Appointed by President Proenza in December 2008, the council —
led by Gill and Marty Belsky, dean of the School of Law — is at the
core of the strategic plan.
Early on, the council recommended that additional academic
advisers were needed to increase the retention and graduation
rates of students from underrepresented populations. The Office of
Academic Affairs acted on the recommendation, and a number of
new advisers have been hired.
The council also initiated the first Greater Akron Supplier Diversity
Conference in May 2010. Relationships established during the
conference — sponsored by UA, KSU, the city, Summa Health
System, Bridgestone/Firestone and others — will help ensure that UA
continues to purchase products and services from diverse suppliers.
UA and the other 24 organizations on the Association of Diversity
Councils’ list of the top diversity councils were honored at an April
ceremony in Atlanta.
ua’S diVErSitY CounCil mEmBErS
martin h. Belsky, J.D., Dean of the School of Law, and
lee a. gill, J.D., AVP for Inclusion & Equity/CDO, lead the
council together.
Other members include:
dr. linda ruth Barrett, UA’s Associate Professor of
Geography and Planning, Faculty/Union-AAUP
ms. roxia B. Boykin, M.P.A., R.N., Vice President,
Community Benefits and Diversity, Summa Health
System Foundation
dr. Charles J. Fey, UA’s Vice President for Student
Engagement and Success
dr. douglas r. hausknecht, UA’s Associate Professor,
Marketing and International Business
mr. gordon holly, Senior Director, Student Life and
Enrollment Management, Wayne College
dr. Willis l. lonzer, iii, Abbott Laboratories, Inc.
dr. Chand midha, UA’s Associate Provost for Academic
and Financial Affairs, and Dean of the Buchtel College of
Arts and Sciences
ms. diane miller-dawson, Director of Finance, Office of the
Mayor, the City of Akron
ms. Barbara o’malley, UA’s Associate Vice President for
Communications and Chief Communications Officer
dr. ramona ortega-liston, UA’s Associate Professor, Public
Administration and Urban Studies
dr. daisy l. alford-Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the
Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio
mr. Stanley B. Silverman, UA’s Associate Provost and Dean,
Summit College, and Dean, University College
dr. harvey l. Sterns, UA’s Professor of Psychology and Director
of the Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology
mr. Steven g. Sedlock, President of Associated Student
Government
dr. Zachery r. Williams, UA’s Associate Director,
Pan African Studies
dr. n. margaret Wineman, Dean, UA’s College of Nursing
mr. thomas Wistrcill, Director, UA’s Intercollegiate Athletics
dr. Sheldon Wrice, Chair & Professor of Technical
Writing and Comp., UA’s Department of Associate Studies,
Summit College
Martin H. Belsky, J.D., (left) Dean of the School of Law, and
lee a. gill, J.D., AVP for Inclusion & Equity/CDO
dr. Julie Yuhua Zhao, Director of Increasing Diversity
in Engineering Academics (IDEAS) Program, UA’s College
of Engineering
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