Statement
Updated Apr. 25, 2024
As the University of Iowa implements the DEI directives from the Iowa Board of Regents, we have relied on a committed group of faculty, staff, and students to review our organizational structures and activities across campus. The DEI Forward Task Force has provided us with a roadmap for how to broaden our definition of diversity and improve the way we prepare students to succeed and lead in a global society.
We are grateful for the task force recommendations, which we have approved. The recommendations ensure the university’s compliance with all accreditation standards and research funding criteria, while helping us to reimagine the structure, programming, and evaluation of our work.
We extend a special thanks to the task force members and especially to the chairs, Liz Tovar, executive officer and associate vice president of the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Dan Clay, dean of the College of Education, for their leadership.
Best,
Barbara J. Wilson, President
Kevin C. Kregel, Executive Vice President and Provost
Updated Dec. 14, 2023
The University of Iowa will launch the DEI Forward Task Force to review and reimagine diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that will meet the Iowa Board of Regents DEI Study recommendations.
UI President Barbara Wilson and Executive Vice President and Provost Kevin Kregel named Liz Tovar, executive officer and associate vice president of the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Dan Clay, dean of the College of Education, task force co-chairs.
Joining Tovar and Clay on the task force will be:
- Neda Barrett, senior human resources director and director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, College of Law; UI Staff Council executive committee member-at-large.
- Ed Gillan, president of UI Faculty Senate, professor of chemistry.
- Cassandra Gordon-Fletcher, director of inclusive education and strategic initiatives, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- Katie Imborek, MD, professor of Family Medicine, UI Health Care Interim Associate Vice President for Health Parity.
- James Jorris, president of UI Staff Council, revenue cycle coordinator for imaging and payment posting, UI Hospitals & Clinics.
- Aimen Hameed, member, Graduate and Professional Student Government, graduate teaching assistant, Department of Gender, Women, and Sexual Studies.
- Isandra Martinez-Marrero, director of cultural engagement and analytics, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- Liz Mendez-Shannon, director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
- Lew Montgomery, senior human resources director, Finance and Operations and University of Iowa Big 10 advisory representative.
- Marco Morel, director of justice and equity, Undergraduate Student Government.
- Angie Reams, associate vice president and dean of students, Division of Student Life.
- Tiffini Stevenson Earl, director of equity investigations and ADA coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- Tanya Uden-Holman, associate provost for undergraduate education and dean of the University College.
- Sarah Vigmostad, associate professor, biomedical engineering; associate faculty research engineer, IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering; researcher, Iowa Institute for Biomedical Engineering; interim associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion, College of Engineering.
- Michele Williams, Henry B. Tippie Research Fellow in Entrepreneurship, and Tippie College of Business associate professor.
- James Jorgensen, vice president for legal affairs and general counsel.
- Jan Waterhouse, assistant vice president, employee relations and inclusion, University Human Resources.
- Charlie Taylor, senior advisor and director of communications, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The task force's charge is to make recommendations that will enhance the effectiveness of the university’s services and programs and evaluate central DEI efforts to ensure alignment with compliance, accreditation, and grant requirements. The group will also evaluate the structure of diversity and inclusion programming across campus, consider the skill sets students and employees need to lead on campus, review job responsibilities and titles, and establish measurable goals and outcomes.
The group will develop a plan addressing the ten focus areas in the Iowa Board of Regents study for consideration by President Wilson and Provost Kregel by March 15, 2024. Following its approval, this plan will be presented to the Iowa Board of Regents for consideration at its April meeting.
The task force welcomes input for this important work. Members of the UI community can submit their feedback on the task force’s key questions using this online form.
Point of Contact: Charlie Taylor
Updated Nov. 16, 2023
The Iowa Board of Regents discussed and approved the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Study Group report on Nov. 16, 2023. In order to implement the recommendations, The University of Iowa will launch a task force to review and evaluate the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and all campus-related diversity and inclusion efforts. The task force will provide recommendations to the president and provost by March 2024, and they will share the plans with the board in April.
We view this as an opportunity to align the remarkable work done on our campus and to ensure we maintain the compliance and accreditation standards that support the success of our students, faculty, and staff.
Diversity and inclusion are important to the campus, and our role is critical in preparing our students to become global society and economic leaders.
We know there will be many questions from students, faculty, and staff regarding how this will impact the university's ability to provide a welcoming and inclusive campus. We want to provide the campus with some information about the recommendations to address some of the questions. If you have additional questions, please see the information below or contact us as we move forward.
Dr. Liz Tovar
Executive Officer and Associate Vice President
Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
elizabeth-tovar@uiowa.edu
Peter Matthes
Vice President for External Relations and Senior Advisor to the President
peter-matthes@uiowa.edu