Division of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Support Programs
Dear Campus Community,
I am pleased to announce the creation of the Division of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Support Programs. The Division will be led by Dr. Kenny E. Yarbrough, whose title is now Associate Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Support Programs. Dr. Yarbrough will continue to report to me directly, be a member of Cabinet, and will maintain his Chief Diversity Officer title for internal and external relations. This change will be cost neutral and will not affect the budget.
This division will be responsible for carrying out the diversity goals and objectives of the strategic plan as well as the diversity aspects of the university’s mission and vision. These essential transformative actions will not only be established through existing committee structures, but also through daily operations and constant connectivity to the Cabinet and the Chancellor.
This division will provide efficiency by bringing together resources, talents, and opportunities of diversity units that were housed in student affairs and academic affairs to report to one Cabinet-level member. The division will provide greater voice for those who have been historically most marginalized and disenfranchised.
UW-Whitewater has a unique opportunity to create synergistic support to advance our diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. The creation of this division will provide greater availability to leverage existing resources, maximize talents, cross-train staff, and forge new pathways to success. This division provides UW-Whitewater with the opportunity to lead the UW System, region, and country in ways that create more intentionality and intersectionality for agency, advocacy, action, and accountability.
It is my firm belief and strong desire that the division will move us beyond rhetoric to action pertaining to our historically oppressed groups that consist of racial/ethnic identities, persons with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community, the veteran population, international campus members, and non-traditional learners.
Attached to this email you will find the organizational chart for the division. You will note that the units that are more heavily connected to academics have a dotted line to the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost. The organizational change will take effect on Oct. 15, 2020.
Please join me in embracing and supporting UW-Whitewater’s newest division.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dwight C. Watson
Chancellor