Aishah Casseus named executive director of the Office of Institutional Equity & Title IX coordinator

Wake Forest’s Aishah Casseus has been named executive director of the Office of Institutional Equity & Title IX coordinator, effective immediately. Casseus has been the University’s Title IX director since 2020.

As Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Equity & Title IX Coordinator, Casseus will ensure compliance with the University’s anti-discrimination and equal opportunity policies. 

Wake Forest announced the new Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) in August 2023. The OIE is responsible for the University’s commitment to equitable and inclusive working and learning environments. The OIE evaluates and investigates claims of discrimination and harassment and ensures compliance with applicable laws, policies, procedures and practices related to accessibility, affirmative action, equal employment opportunity, harassment and discrimination, and sexual misconduct. 

The office will also administer a forthcoming Policy on Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation for faculty and staff and will offer important education and training on non-discrimination resources for all members of the Wake Forest community. 

“In addition to strong legal training and experience, Aishah brings a distinct leadership perspective to this newly combined role. She is a well-respected member of the campus community whose commitment to open and honest communication and clear and transparent processes make her an excellent choice to lead the administration of this work at Wake Forest. I am grateful for the service of the hiring advisory committee members as well as that of interim executive director, Dr. Melissa Clodfelter,” said Dedee DeLongpré Johnston, vice president for human resources and sustainability.

In collaboration with the Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Casseus recorded a video series for faculty members and staff about Title IX reporting. She also worked with Wake Forest’s Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success and Technology Accessibility to create a workshop for faculty members about disability & accessibility. Most recently, she launched ConsentCon, a conference designed to engage students, faculty and staff in a community conversation dedicated to exploring the meaning and operationalization of consent in pursuit of a campus free of interpersonal violence. 

“My vision for Wake Forest’s new Office of Institutional Equity is to be human-centered,” said Casseus. “It’s important to gain community trust by treating people in a manner demonstrating they are worthy of respect in even the most difficult administrative issues.”