Press Release Friday, April 9th, 2010
Increasing the diversity of its student body and workforce has been an on-going priority for the Missouri State University Board of Governors. For 2009-10, the Board identified a specific goal to “Promote diversity through ‘Inclusive Excellence’ across the institution.” Today, the Board took a major step toward that goal by creating a chief diversity officer position.
“Increasing diversity on campus has been and remains a very high priority for the Board,” said Brian Hammons, Board chair. “The university has made great improvements over the past five years under Dr. Nietzel’s leadership, and we want to keep that momentum going. The Board and the university leadership have embraced the concept of ‘Inclusive Excellence,’ which is an important national initiative, and creating the chief diversity officer helps raise our intent to a new level.”
The Board created the chief diversity officer position during its regular meeting today (April 9), which was held on the Mountain Grove campus. At the meeting, several Board members said the new position makes good business sense and represents an investment in the university’s future.
“Creating the chief diversity officer position is not only the right thing to do for our faculty, staff and students, but it also recognizes the demographic realities both for Missouri and our nation,” said Orvin Kimbrough (KIM-brow), Board member from St. Louis. “If Missouri State is to continue to thrive, we must be an education and employment destination for people of all colors and economic backgrounds. This position will help us achieve that goal.”
The chief diversity officer will be a vice president-level position responsible for coordinating university efforts to establish “diversity” as a core value throughout all aspects of the university community, business practices and programming, and in support of the university’s commitment to equal opportunity. The chief diversity officer will work with units at all levels of the institution to promote consistency of diversity processes and procedures to positively impact organizational effectiveness, employee and student development, and community relations.
Dr. Leslie Anderson, associate professor in the department of counseling, leadership and special education, was named as the interim chief diversity officer for the coming year. She will begin her duties Aug. 15, 2010, and conclude them on June 30, 2011. During this time, she will continue to teach at a reduced level in her department to fulfill the duties of the new position.
A national search will be conducted for a permanent chief diversity officer under the direction of the new president. It is anticipated that the position would be filled on or about July 1, 2011. Anderson has indicated that she will not be a candidate for the position.
Anderson has served on the President’s Commission for Diversity since 2005, having served as co-chair in 2007-08 and as chair in 2008-09 and 2009-10. She teaches courses in diversity and she is chairing the Inclusive Excellence Work Group for the university’s new long-range plan. Anderson also serves on the City of Springfield’s Subcommittee for Global Perspectives and Diversity for Long-Range Planning, under direction of City Manager Greg Burris.
Anderson has been at Missouri State since 2002. She received her B.S. degree in secondary education in 1994, her M.S. in counseling and student personnel in 1997, and her Ph.D. degree in educational psychology in 2001, all from Oklahoma State University.
“The concept of Inclusive Excellence is designed to help move Missouri State University from approaching diversity as an isolated initiative to using diversity as a catalyst for educational excellence for all students,” said Anderson. “I appreciate this opportunity to continue the Inclusive Excellence initiative.”
“Leslie will do a terrific job as the initial chief diversity officer,” said Missouri State President Michael T. Nietzel. “Her commitment to diversity, her attention to detail, and her interpersonal skills will make her successful in improving diversity on campus and setting the stage for the permanent hire next year.”