Dear colleagues,
In my few months here at UNC-Chapel Hill, I have been greatly impressed by Karla Slocum and her remarkable accomplishments as associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion in the College of Arts and Sciences. In her 14 months in this position, she has made great strides in bringing the College community together: She has created new outlets for communications and outreach (such as her Conversations to Uphold Equity series); revamped the College’s diversity website to highlight DEI initiatives and resources available to the community; convened and provided support for our communities of color faculty cluster hire; and worked closely with our departmental and unit diversity liaisons and other campus partners to advance DEI issues in the College and across the University. She and the Strategic Plan Committee that she leads have been engaged in a thoughtful, intensive, year-long process to develop a DEI strategic plan for the College.
I am pleased to announce that I am elevating Karla’s position from associate dean to senior associate dean, effective today, Sept. 1. I am taking this action to provide Karla with the resources and increased visibility that her work warrants and to clearly signal that DEI is a core tenet of the College and a vital part of everything we do.
As the inaugural senior associate dean, Karla will lead the College in implementing strategic initiatives, particularly those that have been identified in the College’s diversity plan, which the Strategic Plan Committee expects to finalize this calendar year. (You will be hearing more about this plan from Karla herself shortly.) She will continue to provide strategic direction for training initiatives designed to increase awareness and support of equity and inclusion values. Her responsibilities will also encompass advocating on behalf of women and underrepresented and minority faculty in relation to equity in mentoring and service, and working with departments on curriculum development and course enhancement initiatives that strengthen and expand inclusive classrooms.
Please join me in congratulating Karla in her new role. I look forward to continuing our partnership and to furthering the College’s efforts to actively live our commitments to diversity, to equity and to inclusive excellence.
Sincerely,
Jim
James W.C. White
Craver Family Dean
College of Arts and Sciences