Important diversity and inclusion changes

March 15, 2012

Barbee Myers Oakes talks with students.

To faculty, staff and students:

Important changes have been made in the area of diversity and inclusion. In February, the position and responsibilities of Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Barbee Myers Oakes, was realigned to report jointly to the Provost and the Chief Human Resources Officer, Carmen Canales. This new reporting structure is intended to provide additional support to all faculty, staff and students in these areas by leveraging resources from both HR and the Provost’s office.

Barbee continues to lead the Office of Diversity and Inclusion with support from J. Matthew Williams, Program Coordinator . The LGBTQ Center, directed by Angela Mazaris, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, directed by Alta Mauro, also continue to report to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Read more about Oakes being named one of the “25 Women Making a Difference” by Diverse Issues in Higher Education »

Herndon-Edmunds

Additionally, Shayla Herndon-Edmunds was appointed to serve as Diversity Education Program Manager, reporting to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. In this role, Shayla will fully implement the GateKeepers Workshop series that she developed while serving as the Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration.

We believe these changes will play a crucial role in taking the university from an environment of awareness to one of inclusion, in which faculty, staff and students are empowered to bring themselves more fully into the Wake Forest experience.

— Mark Welker, interim provost
— Hof Milam, senior vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer