Director of Diversity Post Added to Principal's Staff
The Academy is currently searching for a candidate to fill the newly-created position of Director of Community, Equity and Diversity. The search is being conducted by third-party Executive Search Firm, Spelman Johnson, and candidates are expected to arrive at campus in late April.
The new Director will work directly underneath Principal Lisa MacFarlane on the Principal’s Staff. MacFarlane explained that this position will primarily serve to “guide, reinforce, and help create a campus community that truly embodies our values of inclusion and equity, that supports the diversity of our student body, enhances the diversity of our adult community, and promotes cultural fluency for both students and adults.”
Finding a candidate to achieve these goals has taken time. Exeter has wanted to establish this position since 2012, but it was not until last year that a committee of faculty and staff developed the position to suit the administration’s ambitions. The creation of the committee was prompted by the school’s increased focus on equity and a renewed commitment to prioritizing challenges of diversity and community, according to Chair of the English Department Ellen Wolff. “I think that we have to figure out a way to move the community beyond commitment to diversity, to a commitment to equity; to make this community an environment in which everybody has the opportunity to thrive,” Wolff explained. Administrative Intern at the Office of Multicultural Affairs Michelle Irukera, thinks that this position is important because Exeter needs someone to report directly to the principal on issues of diversity. She says she wants this new director to “talk to her [MacFarlane] about these issues and what the school can do better to make sure that we’re fulfilling the needs of all the different populations of students on campus.” Irukera’s sole concern regarding the position is that because the director will be on the administration, they will not get to hear feedback from students, but she thinks that the benefits of the position outweigh the possibility that the director will be removed from student opinions.
Head of the Trustees Nicie Panetta spoke in support of the decision to create a new position with the express goal of advancing diversity and inclusivity; the trustees unanimously voted in agreement. Panetta says, “The Trustees understand that if Exeter is to live up to its ideals we have work to do on issues of community, equity and diversity, work that will continue as long as we share these values and seek to respond to our times.”
The school has turned to Spelman Johnson to assist in the search. According to the job description released by the firm, Spelman Johnson hopes to find an officer that “is responsible for guiding efforts and creating opportunities to define, assess and promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, educational and employment opportunity, and cultural proficiency.” The Director of Community, Equity and Diversity will implement new programs, plans and activities to educate the community about issues concerning diversity.
In addition to fostering a school environment that values and strives towards diversity, the Director will be involved in hiring new staff and recruiting new students. To create a better learning atmosphere for students, the director will work with departments to “develop curricula to advance the DEI mission as well as to facilitate inclusive teaching and learning practices,” according to the job description. The director will also provide advice and expertise in “addressing areas of nondiscrimination, access and equity and awareness of laws.”
In considering potential candidates, Spelman Johnson looks for leadership abilities that would empower the director to address issues surrounding equity and inclusion on campus, while also working to improve student life in general. The search calls for master’s or a JD degree. The review process began on March 31st, 2017, and will continue running until the school has found an ideal candidate.
Though the position has yet to be filled, students have already expressed support for the steps Exeter is taking to make the committee more inclusive; many students have high hopes for what the new director will offer the community and accomplish in her role. Lower and cohead of Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Adrian Kyle Venzon said, “I would hope that they work to make sure that the LGBTQ+ community at Exeter feels comfortable here. This dean must work to create an environment where everyone's pronouns are respected and heteronormativity is reduced.” Other students, including senior and Feminist Union cohead Autumn Herness, were equally excited by the prospect of the new director working with clubs that already seek to ensure equity on campus. “Fem Club will be able to host more campus-wide events, or bring in more speakers or do more outreach programs if they have a friend in the Dean’s Office,” she said.
Wolff also expressed support for the creation of this new position, but added that there is still more work to be done. Dean of Multicultural Affairs Rosanna Salcedo pointed out that efforts should be made to create a curriculum that reflects the diverse backgrounds of Exeter’s student body. “The cultural climate of an institution can have a significant impact on the health, well-being, and ability to learn, of students and adults,” Salcedo said. According to Wolff, one of the first items on the new director’s agenda will be developing a more diverse teaching body.Along the same lines, Wolff suggested that developing a more diverse teaching body will be one of the first items on the new director’s to-do list. “I would love to see us be able to build a diverse faculty that reflects the diversity of the student body,” Wolff said.