Eastern Gateway Creates Office of Institutional Diversity

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – Eastern Gateway Community College has created the Office of Institutional Diversity, a cabinet-level department to develop plans for and coordinate diversity, inclusion and equality programs at the college.

“Across the country, we have all heard the calls to address systemic racism in real and meaningful ways. We have a diversity committee, established proactively by members of our staff and faculty, but we need to do more,” said Interim President and chief financial officer Michael Geoghegan in a statement. “We are starting at the top by instituting an office focused on promoting diversity, inclusivity, equity and opportunity for our students, staff and faculty.”

Staff and faculty have already created a voluntary committee to engage students in activities, training and cultural celebrations and “the new office will enhance and elevate their work,” he continued. The new office will be lead by Karla Gregory-Martin, who currently serves as vice president of workforce, Aspire and community outreach.

The Office of Institutional Diversity’s tasks include:

• Co-lead the existing Staff and Faculty Diversity Committee and establish an action plan for its work.
• Review and recommend changes to human resources policies.
• Develop a recruitment and retention program for minority employees.
• Create programming that provides mentoring, support services and resources for students challenged by gender, racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, ability, immigration, age, military status, or economic inequities. 
  Work with the vice president of student affairs to integrate equality and diversity best practices into student services and events.
• Work with the vice president of academic affairs to ensure courses and textbooks promote diversity, promote inclusive conversations, and provide tools for addressing unintentional bias and overt discrimination.
• Provide advice and counsel to the President of Eastern Gateway Community College as a member of the President’s Cabinet, and work across the college’s administration to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion best practices are trained and implemented.
• Create engagement opportunities for students, staff, faculty and the general public on issues of social justice and equality.

“The role of education to transform lives is not limited to what takes place in the classroom, but throughout the culture of the campus and its community,” said Gregory-Martin. “The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity will be a champion for the kind of transformation that will make Eastern Gateway Community College a more vibrant, safe and equitable place for everyone.”

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.