Dear Colleagues,
I trust you’ve had a productive first week of fall term. Thank you for showing up for our students and each other during a fraught time for Portland and Portland State.
I write today to share an update regarding Global Diversity and Inclusion (GDI). Julie Caron, retired Associate Vice President for GDI, has stepped into the role of interim Vice President for GDI effective this month, taking over for Ame Lambert.
As you know, we announced in July a change in the university’s administrative structure to better serve our students by uniting all of our student-facing services under the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA).
As part of that shift, the portfolio of student support services currently within GDI, including multicultural student services and student retention programs, will move to OAA. At the same time, we will move the Office of Equity and Compliance to a newly created Office of Equity, Compliance & Internal Audit. Finally, we will create and recruit for a new position, a university-wide Chief Diversity Officer, reporting to the President’s Office and working with departments across campus.
Provost Shelly Chabon has been collaborating with GDI staff to develop plans for the integration of GDI student services into Academic Affairs. Julie will be providing leadership and support to the GDI team through the end of the calendar year when GDI transitions to the new administrative structure.
I am grateful to Ame Lambert for her considerable contributions to Portland State during her time leading GDI.
We will keep the campus community updated on the Chief Diversity Officer search and opportunities to engage in that process.
Thank you for everything you do for Portland State.
Sincerely
Ann Cudd
Portland State University President