Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Randy Williams received the 2026 Rising Star Award from the during the association鈥檚 annual conference held this year in Philadelphia.

The Rising Star Award is presented to a NADOHE member in good standing who has served as a chief or senior diversity officer for at least three years, but no more than 10 total years at a higher educational institution.

Nominees are considered for their 鈥渆xceptional contributions to research, administration, practice, advocacy and/or policy informs and advances the understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence in higher education.鈥�

鈥淩eceiving the Rising Star Award at this point in my career reminds me that I am, and always will be, a lifelong learner, continually striving to grow and improve,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚 am also grateful to NADOHE for its support of the many professionals dedicated to creating high-quality learning environments for all students, faculty, and staff.

鈥淏ecause awards are rarely earned alone, I share this recognition with my 乱伦视频 colleagues, who prioritize inclusive excellence every day.鈥�

Since his promotion to his current role in July 2020, Williams has led wide-ranging efforts to advance inclusive excellence at 乱伦视频, driving measurable gains in faculty and staff diversity, student belonging and institutional accountability.

He has helped embed equity-focused practices across the university through initiatives such as a Shared Equity Leadership national research project and through guided reforms to faculty development and student services that have addressed structural barriers.

Colleagues credit Williams with fostering a collaborative, campuswide approach that positions inclusive excellence as a shared responsibility with leadership that contributed to national research partnerships and programs now serving as models for other institutions.

Beyond campus, Williams has strengthened community partnerships and helped shape institutional responses to social issues, extending the university鈥檚 impact regionally and nationally.

Lak茅 Laosebikan-Buggs, 乱伦视频鈥檚 director of inclusive excellence for graduate and professional education, nominated Williams for the award.

鈥淲hat distinguishes Dr. Williams is not just his expertise but his bold, forward-thinking leadership,鈥� she wrote in her nomination. 鈥淗is ability to navigate institutional complexity, including the shifting winds of public opinion, while inspiring broad engagement, and implementing systems-level change, positions him as a future national leader in higher education equity and inclusion work.鈥�

Lavender Graduation reminds graduates they are deserving 鈥榮imply by being鈥�

乱伦视频鈥檚 Lavender Graduation Ceremony celebrated nine LGBTQIA students from 乱伦视频鈥檚 School of Law. The ceremony has been celebrated at 乱伦视频 since 2012 for undergraduates and 2022 for graduate and professional students. The Gender and LGBTQIA Center (GLC) and the Division of Inclusive Excellence.

鈥淭his event serves as a powerful reminder that we are all deserving, simply by being. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of such an exceptional group of students,鈥� said聽Laosebikan-Buggs. 鈥淥ur existence, especially in higher education, is an act of resistance, and I am honored to recognize the hard work and perseverance that have brought our students to this moment. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of such an exceptional group of students.”

Each student received a rainbow stole and heard a personal tribute from friends, family and faculty, including Bob Minarcin, assistant professor of law, and Kirsta Contino Saumby, associate director of career development for the School of Law.

Minarcin, who is also the OUTLaw faculty co-adviser, read the tribute for Nicholle Parsons L鈥�24, executive director of OUTLaw, calling her a 鈥渇orce of nature.鈥�

鈥淣icholle is the kind of person who embodies the phrase 鈥榓 true friend for all,鈥� but that鈥檚 only scratching the surface,鈥� said Minarcin. 鈥淪he鈥檚 also fiercely determined, unflinchingly brave and a relentless advocate for what鈥檚 right.鈥�

Alex Xouris 鈥�21, a member of the 乱伦视频 LGBTQIA Alumni Network, encouraged graduates to reflect on the 鈥減ower of connection.鈥�

鈥淟avender Graduation is a time to celebrate your courage鈥攖he courage it takes to embrace who you are, to live authentically and to claim your space in the world. Hold onto that feeling,鈥� said Xouris. 鈥淪taying connected to 乱伦视频 is one of the most important things you can do as an alum.鈥�

Laosebikan-Buggs closed the ceremony with words of encouragement for the graduates.

鈥淢ay we all live in a life and a world where we aren鈥檛 judged by our race, our size, our orientation, or sparkle,鈥� said Buggs. 鈥淯ntil next time, I wish you nothing but sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns, which are no less fictitious and no less magical than you are.鈥�

隆Celebremos! honors resilience and family聽

Nine students from the 乱伦视频 School of Law and the School of Health Sciences were honored during 隆Celebremos! Graduates Take Flight, celebrating Latinx/Hispanic students and the contributions of their families and friends. While the event is held annually in the spring semester, this is only the second time the event was held in the fall semester for winter commencement.

Lupe Ramirez-Ramos L鈥�24 addressed her fellow graduates, offering congratulations and reminding them of their resilience.

鈥淲e are the daughters, the granddaughters, the great-granddaughters of women who carried on despite overwhelming odds,鈥� said Ramierz-Ramos. 鈥淎nd as we step into the professions of law and health, we do so with the understanding that our presence is not just a victory for us individually, but for all those who will follow in your footsteps.鈥�

Each student received a stole with monarch butterflies 鈥� a symbol of the journey the students have made.

鈥淓very year, millions of monarch butterflies migrate from North to South. Along the way, they stop at different points in order to recharge and continue their journey. As immigrants, we have been on a long journey and have much more to go just like the monarch butterfly,鈥� said MJ Larrazabal G鈥�21, associate director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education. 鈥淲e, as part of the Latinx Hispanic community understand that no matter where we come from and no matter where our journey takes us, we have all found ourselves at this stop at the same time.

While receiving their stole, faculty members read messages the students wrote to themselves and their families about their accomplishments.

鈥淭here is nothing more valuable to me than having your unconditional love,鈥� wrote Jennifer Tinoco Ortiz 鈥�24 to her family. 鈥淵ou are my greatest source of inspiration, and I will always carry you with me in every decision and every achievement that comes my way. This diploma is for you.鈥�

Connection and family were front and center during the celebration and Sofia Montalbo 鈥�20, a member of the 乱伦视频 Latinx/Hispanic Alumni Network stressed the importance of the 乱伦视频 community.

鈥淵ou are never alone in this journey,鈥� said Montalbo. 鈥淓mbrace the unknowns with courage. Let the lessons you鈥檝e learned here at 乱伦视频 fuel your journey forward and never forget the incredible community that stands ready to catch you when you stumble and, more importantly, celebrate your wins.鈥�

In Kente ceremony, lessons for a more just world

Get proximate to the problems you are trying to solve.

Be willing to change the narrative.

Be willing to be uncomfortable.

Stay hopeful.

Civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson has been a longtime advocate on behalf of people sentenced to death row. His ongoing work through the Equal Justice Initiative he founded in 1989 has influenced countless others over the years, including Associate Professor Stephanie Baker, chair of 乱伦视频鈥檚 Department of Public Health.

鈥淵ou can imagine in doing this hard work that he has learned quite a bit about what we need to do to create a more just world,鈥� said Baker, who delivered a keynote address in a Donning of the Kente Ceremony for 2024 graduates of 乱伦视频鈥檚 School of Law and School of Health Sciences. 鈥�(Mr. Stevenson) offers four incredibly important lessons that I apply regularly and may be of use to you.鈥�

Those lessons and more were shared by Baker as part of a cultural celebration for Black students on the eve of Commencement ceremonies. Following Baker鈥檚 address, faculty and staff read aloud remarks submitted by a family member or mentor of each graduate who stood on stage after being donned with a stole to be worn at graduation.

The cloth鈥檚 origin dates to 12th Century Ghana where it was worn by kings, queens and important figures of state during ceremonial events and special occasions. In a cultural context, it is a visual representation of African history, philosophy, ethics, oral literature, moral values, social code of conduct, religious beliefs, political thought and aesthetic principles.

鈥淭he donning of the kente is a cultural ceremony celebrating achievements of 鈥� students who recognize their African roots,鈥� School of Health Sciences Dean Maha Lund said in her program welcome. 鈥淲e look forward to this positive and memorable experience to reward our graduates and their loved ones with a personal and culturally relevant ceremony at this significant moment of their family’s histories.鈥�

The event was organized by Laosebikan-Buggs, with assistance and contributions from faculty and staff in the School of Law, the School of Health Sciences and the Division of Inclusive Excellence.

In closing the ceremony, 乱伦视频 Law Dean Zak Kramer reflected on the importance of both schools celebrating the kente program together 鈥渂ecause you are going into professions that serve.鈥�

鈥淭his is an incredibly important moment in your lives, and it represents a lot of hard work,鈥� Kramer said. 鈥淔riends, you’re about to go do much harder work. It speaks to the soul of our culture and our civic society, and you will have responsibilities with people’s lives in your hands and their livelihood. We have been very lucky to watch you develop over time and we will be even luckier when you come back and tell us all the amazing things that you have done.鈥�

鈥淚 am an immigrant who left Mexico at a very young age and my identity keeps me tied there,鈥� Miranda Tapia said. 鈥淢y Latino identity means everything to me.鈥�

Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month provides Miranda Tapia an opportunity to celebrate his culture and share it with others. Even outside of this annual celebration, Miranda Tapia is focused on creating spaces of belonging and support for Latinx/Hispanic people that allow them to bond over their shared experiences and lift up their culture more broadly.

鈥淐oming from Mexico and not thinking that I would be able to go to college, but then being able to go to college and have this impact on my peers, my community and those around me,鈥� said Miranda Tapia. 鈥淚t makes me proud seeing the ripple effects of my contributions.鈥�

A first-generation college student, Miranda Tapia arrived to begin his higher education journey at 乱伦视频 through the Golden Door Scholarship program. This scholarship is provided to undocumented college students and he also received support from the Odyssey Program.

Throughout his educational journey, Miranda Tapia has placed an importance on community, mentorship and cultural pride, all aspects he said have contributed to his success. More resources are needed to allow younger members of the Latinx/Hispanic community to elevate and enrich their experiences, as well as maximize institutional support. Hispanic Heritage Month plays an important role in celebrating culture and educating younger generations, including his own siblings. He is the oldest of three siblings, and one of two to have been born in Mexico.

鈥淚t’s beautiful to see and pass down my culture to my siblings,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 love it when they begin to develop the awareness of their own culture and begin to take pride in it,鈥� he said.

Miranda Tapia鈥檚 journey has not always been smooth. He credits The SMART Mentoring Program for keeping him at 乱伦视频 during his first semester.

鈥淚 wanted to transfer from 乱伦视频 because I didn’t feel like I belonged,鈥� Miranda Tapia said.

The SMART Mentoring Program aims to connect first-year and transfer ALANAM (African-American/Black, Latinx/Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Alaskan Native and Multiracial) students to mentors on campus that will help provide peer support. He found himself in spaces where he was surrounded by the majority and many were from different socio-economic backgrounds.

鈥淭he SMART Mentoring Program was the first organization that I joined as a first-year student that provided me with a community,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he organization allowed me to stay and find my community.鈥�

He also joined what, at the time, was called the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and is now the Latinx/Hispanic Union (LHU).

鈥淚 joined the organization my freshman year and to me it was important because it provided me an opportunity to be able to connect with my culture,鈥� Miranda Tapia said.

LHU is an organization that aims to create unity in the Latinx/Hispanic community, foster diversity at 乱伦视频 and advocate on issues.聽He served as president of the Latin American Student Organization and after graduating, Miranda Tapia helped create the Latinx Hispanic Alumni Network (ELHAN). ELHAN was established to unite and represent the interests of Latinx/Hispanic alumni. The organization helped students, faculty and staff to build connections at 乱伦视频 and then continue to foster them once they leave.

鈥淗aving been born in Mexico and coming to the United States, it just filled my cup to be able to lead this organization,鈥� said Miranda Tapia.

Miranda Tapia was also involved in 乱伦视频 Academy, the university鈥檚 intensive, three-phase college access and success program for academically promising high school students in Alamance County who may have a financial need or no college history in their family. The program aims to strengthen leadership, college-going knowledge, family involvement and more. Through his work with 乱伦视频 Academy, he was able to help first-generation students like himself who came from low-income backgrounds navigate the college application process and increase their access to the transformative experience of higher education.

鈥淢y job was to help them with the college application process, developing college going habits and making sure that they were doing what they needed to do inside and outside of the classroom,鈥� said Miranda Tapia. 鈥淭his program was significant because it provided me with a purpose. It provided me with an opportunity to be able to give back to the community that I come from and help similar students get into higher education.鈥�

After graduating from 乱伦视频, Miranda Tapia was selected for a Kenan Community Impact Fellowship, which is a partnership that pairs recent 乱伦视频 graduates with Alamance County organizations for a year of service. He worked with for one year with a fellowship that was focused on kindergarten, early childhood development and education. Alamance Achieves is a partnership of leaders with various backgrounds from all over Alamance County. Following his year of service, Miranda Tapia headed to Harvard University to complete a master鈥檚 degree in higher education before returning in 2019 to his alma mater to support a new initiative.

Miranda Tapia was the first to lead First-Generation Student Support Services, which was a newly created program housed at the Center for Access and Success. The program is geared toward students that have similar backgrounds to Miranda Tapia, which made him feel grateful for coming back to 乱伦视频 and serving in that same capacity for three years. Miranda Tapia said Esther Freeman, who was then the director of the Odyssey Program, took him under her wing.

鈥淚t was a full circle moment where I had the support and mentoring from the Odyssey program when I was in undergrad there,鈥� said Miranda Tapia.

Miranda Tapia is now three years into his work toward a doctorate in educational leadership, policy and human development with a concentration in higher education opportunity, equity and justice from N.C. State University. He will soon be working on his dissertation and expects to graduate in May 2026.

鈥淚 realized I needed to strengthen my research skills to be able to make the change that I wanted to have,鈥� Miranda Tapia said.

Miranda Tapia has continued to build connections through student organizations as he pursues his doctorate and is now a co-founder and co-president of the Latine Graduate Student Association at N.C. State University.

鈥淲hen I arrived at N.C. State it was very much this feeling of, ‘Where is the Latino community?’ I know that we exist, but we’re navigating our graduate education in silos,鈥� said Miranda Tapia.

The creation of this organization was a big accomplishment for Miranda Tapia and he gives credit to his peers who were with him through the process of making the organization happen.

鈥淏eing able to do this work is not just work, it’s something personal,” he said.

In 2023, Miranda Tapia co-authored聽鈥淐onnections Are Everything: A College Student鈥檚 Guide to Relationship Education鈥� with President Emeritus Leo M. Lambert, Assistant Provost Peter Felten and Isis Artze-Vega,聽college provost and vice president for academic affairs at Valencia College. The book, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, results from more than 200 interviews with college students and makes the case for the role of relationships in student success. Miranda Tapia was also named a Top 10 Under 10 alumnus by 乱伦视频 in 2024.

Miranda Tapia is currently working on a project looking at the experiences of undocumented college students as they transition into the workforce. He is examining what colleges and universities are doing or not doing to aid them in this transition, as well as uplift and highlight their experiences.

鈥淚t’s an opportunity to take the experiences that I’ve had as an undocumented individual and also the experiences of those that I’ve worked with and try to create some positive change to benefit this community,鈥� said Miranda Tapia.

Miranda Tapia would like to be able to create a program that helps members of the Latinx/Hispanic community and those who have a similar background to him, similar to the 鈥淚t Takes a Village鈥� Project at 乱伦视频. He would like to do the necessary research into what鈥檚 affecting this population, build the case for a program and support individuals through program participation.

鈥淭o me, belonging means having a space that everyone can thrive in – an environment filled with connections to folks that look like you and have a similar background,鈥� said Miranda Tapia. This is something Vice President Emeritus Jean Rattigan-Rohr, who was his supervisor in the Center for Access and Success, did during her career at 乱伦视频 by launching the 鈥淚t Takes a Village鈥� Project, which has expanded its impact on local school children and their families. He wants to impact the Latinx/Hispanic community in a similar way.

鈥淚t was so inspiring to be able to see how she not only implemented the program, but backed it by research and used grants to fund and expand this program,鈥� said Miranda Tapia.

鈥淚 really hope that everyone learns something new,鈥� said Assistant Director of聽CREDE MJ Larrazabal. 鈥淚 think these events are really cool because even if you are not Latinx or Hispanic, you get to come enjoy some food and enjoy some music.鈥�

The kickoff event on Sept. 15 was attended by students, faculty and staff of different cultural backgrounds.

鈥淵ou can learn something that’s different than your own,鈥� Larrazabal said.

Katherine Sibrian Delgado 鈥�25 shared the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month her as a student at an institution where Hispanic students are in the minority.

鈥淚t means a lot seeing a lot of other people here celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with me, Delgado said. 鈥淚 feel like we can all come together as a community.鈥�

Along with food and music, various organizations and programs connected with attendees by offering more information about their initiatives. Anahy Felipe 鈥�26 is the president of the Latinx/Hispanic Union and her table offered attendees the opportunity to learn about the student organization.

鈥淲e throw events mainly for the Latino community, but everyone’s welcome,鈥� Felipe said. 鈥淚t’s more of just having a community within our organization to kind of uplift and learn more about Latin culture and Latin customs,鈥� said Felipe.

The Latinx/Hispanic Union promotes belonging and diversity at 乱伦视频 and advocates on a variety of issues.聽Everyone was encouraged to participate, make new connections and be open to learning something new.

鈥淎ll of the students and the student coordinators show support. It felt good to show that same support back,鈥� said Kyla Maxwell 鈥�25.

Maxwell attended the event through her involvement with CREDE, which provides welcoming spaces across campus. The CREDE shows support for ALANAM communities: African-American/Black, Latinx/Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American, Alaskan Native and multiracial.

Part of the CREDE is El Centro, which provides a space for education and promotes a better understanding of Latinx/Hispanic identities and cultures. The group also strives for cultural awareness and community service with the Latinx/Hispanic community. The CREDE and El Centro are groups that strive to promote conversation among students, faculty and staff.

鈥淭he event relates to identity and fulfillment for me because it lets minority students know that they have a safe space on campus or a place that they belong,鈥� Maxwell said.

The conference aims to unite Black-identifying students, faculty and staff by providing an avenue through which Black identity, Black intersectionality and building solidarity are explored.

The conference continues the theme of Black History Month celebrations at 乱伦视频, 鈥漈he Black Renaissance: Revive, Reclaim, Rejoice,鈥� emphasizing the importance of reviving the arts and Black culture.

鈥淭here will be a strong focus on art, creativity, innovation, joy, and social responsibility,鈥� Simone Royal 鈥�17, assistant director for the CREDE.

Black Solidarity Day began during the 1969 demonstration of Black liberation by Carlos Russell, Afro-Panamanian activist, artist and scholar. Inspired by these events, 乱伦视频鈥檚 Black Solidarity conference, started in 2014, is an annual event to encourage the 乱伦视频 community to unify to discuss topics that impact the university鈥檚 cultural, social and academic climate on- and off-campus. Through these conversations, the goal is for participants to gain a deeper insight into what it means to be Black in society.

鈥淲e hope attendees will be inspired by the conference and take away some advice about being innovative, artistic, socially responsible and active community members to uplift one another,鈥� said Christina Carr 鈥�23, student chair of the 2023 Black Solidarity Conference Planning Committee, president of the Black Student Union (BSU) and co-chair for senior class giving.

This year鈥檚 conference includes sessions geared towards a deeper exploration of one鈥檚 own cultural and societal understanding, impact and continued growth, entertainment from a New Orleans line band and student performances, and a keynote address from Alex Bohannon 鈥�17.

In 2021 Alex Bohannon became the youngest member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education in its history and currently serves as vice chair. Additionally, while at 乱伦视频 he became the founding president of the BSU. Implementing the foundation of understanding the importance of possessing a spirit of gratitude, humility and patience in his work as a human resources professional, Bohannon strives to make a positive impact within his community.

The conference will center around five pillars:

• Allyship, Anti-Racism, Anti-Black Racism
• Wellness in Black communities
• Blackness in a Global Context
• Intersectionality in Black Communities
• Socio-political activism

The conference is free for all 乱伦视频 faculty, staff, students and alumni. There is a $25 fee for any off-campus attendees, which will contribute to registration and food throughout the conference. To attend, register here. Registration closes Monday, Feb. 20.

If you have specific questions, please contact Simone Royal at sroyal2@elon.edu or the CREDE at 336-278-6516.

2023 Black Solidarity Conference schedule

• On-going Check-in: noon 鈥� 1 p.m.
• Welcome & Introduction: 12:45 p.m. 鈥� 1 p.m.
• Lunch & Keynote Speaker: 1-2 p.m.
• Roundtable Discussions: 2:15-2:40 p.m.
• Session #1: 2:45 鈥� 3:40 p.m.
• Session #2: 3:45鈥� 4:40 p.m.
• Mocktail Hour: 4:45鈥� 6 p.m.
• Closing & Entertainment: 5:30 鈥� 6 p.m.

鈥淭he atmosphere was great,鈥� said center Evonna McGill, the team鈥檚 third leading scorer. 鈥淥f course, it鈥檚 an earlier game, but having everyone cheering for us and going for us felt really good.鈥�

Head Coach Charlotte Smith聽shared the team鈥檚 familiarity with loud crowds during away games. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been in these types of atmospheres, so I know how electrifying and energizing it can be, and I know the impact it has on the students,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been really excited since the idea was proposed.鈥�

The buzz in the arena was just that 聽electrifying and energizing. Included in the frenzied crowd was third-grader Adeline Caulder from Andrews Elementary School. She enjoyed the players coming to her classroom earlier in the week leading up to Education Day because she plays basketball too. During the game, she loved when the Phoenix scored, and she saved her loudest cheers for the Phoenix putting the ball in the basket.

Education Day is an experience for local elementary teachers, too. Andrea Perue聽teaches at Andrews Elementary and plans to use the experience in her teaching material. 鈥淭o me, this is education,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are emphasizing the fun in learning.

鈥淥verall, this is positive energy, I love to see them enjoying themselves, and I know it will be inspiring,鈥� she said 鈥淚n fact, I will be using this to talk about teamwork and collaboration in the classroom.鈥�

Leading up to seeing the Phoenix take on the University of Richmond Spiders, 乱伦视频 women鈥檚 basketball players visited different schools, with the student-athletes answering questions about their experiences at the university, from the classroom to the court. They even showed them a few moves.

Maya Johnson, a senior studying business marketing, visited Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary School and spoke with fifth-grade students. 鈥淚 wish I had college students talk to me when I was their age,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚t was nice to talk to them about how important education is.鈥�

Jason Chandler, senior associate director of athletics for external operations, organized the event that was discontinued about 10 years ago. 鈥淭he important thing about Education Day is getting kids on campus, learning more about college life and initiating interest in attending college.鈥� Chandler said.

鈥淲e are cultivating the value of doing well in school and furthering your education,鈥� he continued. 鈥淎fter these one-on-one experiences with our student-athletes at their school, discussing the importance of college, we get to bring the students here to see it in reality.鈥�

Chandler had experience planning an Education Day game when he was previously at Old Dominion University, and had an interest in reviving it at 乱伦视频 given the history of the event at the university. In 2011, Karen Barefoot was named the head coach of women鈥檚 basketball at ODU after three seasons with 乱伦视频. Her final season was the best in the program鈥檚 division-I history. At ODU, with Chandler鈥檚 assistance, she implemented the annual Education Day game after experiencing it at 乱伦视频 from 2008 through 2011. 乱伦视频鈥檚 first Education Day game took place in 2005 in Alumni Gym against Longwood University.

鈥淚 hope we can continue hosting an Education Day game because we will eventually see the students that attended this game attend 乱伦视频,鈥� Chandler said, 鈥淭his is the beginning stages of that.鈥�

First-year guard Chloe Williams started the game against Richmond and posted 10 points, three rebounds and two assists. 鈥淚 loved it, even in warm-ups they were yelling for us,鈥� Williams said about the student support. 鈥淚 think it really pumped us up.鈥�

Williams said visiting the schools and spending time with the students before game day provided a truly interactive experience. 鈥淲e have to keep doing this every year,鈥� Williams said.

McElderry will begin his new role at 乱伦视频 on July 5, succeeding Matthew Antonio Bosch, who left the university in June 2021 for a faculty and administrative role at Rosemont College.

In an announcement to the university community, Jon Dooley, vice president for Student Life, and Randy Williams, vice president and associate provost for Inclusive Excellence, shared their excitement to welcome McElderry to 乱伦视频. 鈥淗e brings an exceptional track record of leadership, deep experience with diversity and inclusion initiatives, and excellent training and facilitation skills and is the right person to advance our shared responsibility to foster an equitable, inclusive campus environment,鈥� they wrote.

After graduating from George Mason University with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in administration of justice, McElderry enrolled in the college student personnel master鈥檚 program at Ohio University, where he also served as a graduate assistant in Multicultural Programs and the Multicultural Center. Following the completion of his degree, he joined the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center at the University of Missouri, where he was eventually promoted to director of the center. During his tenure, he developed a national award-winning Black men鈥檚 initiative for first-year students and provided leadership for the university community during the Fall 2015 campus unrest.

In his current role at Wake Forest, McElderry oversaw the transition of the former Office of Multicultural Affairs into the Intercultural Center. As the center鈥檚 inaugural director, he has shaped the mission and strategic vision for the center, and cultivated and managed an array of university diversity and cultural competence training programs and learning opportunities. He works jointly with the Division of Campus Life and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in a comprehensive approach to strengthening belonging and connection in the Wake Forest community and fostering a more equitable and inclusive campus.

McElderry is a practitioner-scholar with numerous publications and conference presentations, and he is an active trainer and facilitator for leadership and diversity education experiences. He also brings classroom teaching experience for undergraduate courses at the University of Missouri and Wake Forest University and is currently a part-time assistant professor in the Counseling department at Wake Forest. At 乱伦视频, he will serve as an administrator with faculty rank.

鈥淚 am excited to join the 乱伦视频 community and contribute to the progressive work happening around inclusive excellence,鈥� said McElderry.聽 鈥淚 am looking forward to working with colleagues across the university to ensure that 乱伦视频 is an institution where all members of the community feel seen, cared for, and valued.鈥�

One of the four themes in the Boldly 乱伦视频 strategic plan, Thrive, outlines the university鈥檚 commitment to building a healthier and more diverse, equitable and inclusive community where all students, faculty, and staff experience belonging and well-being. In his new role, McElderry will be charged to advance these goals with colleagues across the university, guided by signature university initiatives for enhancing academic-residential partnerships, social climate and out-of-class engagement, civic engagement, wellness and well-being, mentoring, and intellectual climate. McElderry will serve as a senior leader in two university divisions, Student Life and Inclusive Excellence, and will provide guidance and support for the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education and the Gender and LGBTQIA Center.

About Jonathan A. McElderry

Education

University of Missouri 鈥� Columbia, Missouri

• Ph.D., Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis
• Dissertation: Campus En-Counter: Counter Narratives of the Persistence of Black Males at PWIs

Ohio University 鈥� Athens, Ohio

• M.Ed., College Student Personnel

George Mason University 鈥� Fairfax, Virginia

• B.S., Administration of Justice

Professional Experience

2019 鈥� Present

• Wake Forest University, Assistant Dean of Students & Executive Director, Intercultural Center

2016鈥�2019

• Wake Forest University, Director, Intercultural Center

2013鈥�2016

• University of Missouri, Director, Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center

2014鈥�2016

• University of Missouri, Interim Coordinator, Office of Greek Life

2011鈥�2013

• University of Missouri, Doctoral Graduate Assistant, Office of Student Conduct

Professional Leadership

ACPA鈥揅ollege Student Educators International, Governing Board, Director, Equity and Inclusion,聽2020 鈥� Present

Journal of African American Males in Higher Education, Editorial Board,聽2020 鈥� Present

The LeaderShape Institute, Co-Lead Faciltator and Quality Team Member,聽2017鈥扬谤别蝉别苍迟

The final report and recommendations are now available on the Office of Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development website.

The group took a comprehensive approach to learning the current system, how it has been experienced and how it can be improved, said Randy Williams, vice president and associate provost for inclusive excellence, who supports the recommendations from the working group.

鈥淭he working group鈥檚 process of gathering information from students, alumni, faculty and staff raised awareness and visibility of the bias response system,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚 look forward to the implementation of the recommendations, which align with our efforts toward an inclusive campus for all members.鈥�

Completed in July 2021, the report includes 38 recommendations within six themes:

• Personnel,
• Partnerships,
• Education and training,
• Accountability and policy,
• Technology and usage of the webpage, and
• Transparency.

鈥淭he recommendations proposed by the Bias Response System Working Group are intended to advance the university鈥檚 goal of designing a bias response system that results in optimal outcomes and moves 乱伦视频 closer to a campus culture where identity-based bias and discrimination are deemed unacceptable,鈥� the working group concluded in the report. 鈥淭he recommendations call for focused and efficient processes with adequate staffing and resources to minimize the perception of busyness.鈥�

Some recommendations are already in effect. 鈥淲e immediately changed the language and information on the reporting form to make it easier to complete a report,鈥� said Carla Fullwood, director of the Office of Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development (OIEED). 鈥淎dditionally, we鈥檝e began revising the role of the Bias Impact Response and Education Team, focusing their charge on education and support.鈥�

The bias response system is overseen by Fullwood鈥檚 office and she served as a member of the working group. The newly appointed implementation team will begin convening this spring to manage the complete installment of the group鈥檚 recommendations.

The working group was formed in Fall 2020 after President Connie Ledoux Book tasked Williams and Jon Dooley, vice president for student life, with reviewing and redesigning the current bias response and reporting system. Wendy Scott, associate dean for academic success and professor for 乱伦视频 Law School, and Jenni Spangenberg, director of student conduct, served as co-chairs of the Bias Response System Working Group.

Scott and Spangenberg looked at the group鈥檚 assignment as divided into three categories: reviewing the strengths and weakness of the current bias response system, looking at the systems in place at comparable universities, and listening to 乱伦视频 students, faculty, staff and alumni about their experiences with the university鈥檚 bias response system.

The discussions during listening sessions and the comparisons the working group was able to make between 乱伦视频鈥檚 system and those at other schools aided the final list of recommendations. 鈥淎 lot of our conversations early on were about what was happening at other schools and the recommendations just started to form,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淲e also realized that some universities don鈥檛 even have a bias response system, so 乱伦视频 was ahead of a lot of institutions that were comparable, but we also saw institutions that had systems that were more accessible.鈥�

Leigh Anne Royster, the former director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence (now the OIEED), initially served as a co-chair of the group. Prior to her departure from 乱伦视频, she played an integral part in helping the group understand the system. Spangenberg, Royster鈥檚 successor as co-chair, brought to the group her experiences working with the bias response system. 鈥淚f it was a potential policy situation, we would get referrals and we would refer some of our student conduct incident reports to the bias response system,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e worked collaboratively.鈥�

The group鈥檚 work relied on establishing partnerships between offices on campus, such as the partnership with Campus Safety & Police. The group met with Chief Joe LeMire, who joined 乱伦视频 in February 2021. 鈥淲hen the new chief began, we had an interview with him to include how he saw how Campus Safety and Police may interact with the bias response system,鈥� Spangenberg said.

The group also looked at enhancing and expanding partnerships with the broader community beyond 乱伦视频鈥檚 campus. For instance, a recommendation under the report鈥檚 partnerships section calls for the university to 鈥渆stablish a relationship with and meet biannually with the Town of 乱伦视频 and Alamance County leaders to determine ways to minimize bias incidents involving campus community members and members of the town or county communities.鈥�

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 want to confine our concerns to the campus. A lot of the encounters that go through the BRS are incidents that happen off campus,鈥� said Scott.

Transparency and providing more easily accessible information emerged as priorities. 鈥淎 big concern that came up was transparency about the fact that the system was available, how to access it, and then, what resolutions and pathways were available,鈥� Spangenberg said. 鈥淚 think there was a perception that even if you reported through the bias response system, nothing would happen.鈥�

Scott added that the working group was able to draw from what other universities were doing to determine how to improve transparency about the system at 乱伦视频. 鈥淲e saw universities that were very transparent, very clear how things worked, and that was included in some of our recommendations,鈥� she said.

If the group had differing opinions, they worked by consensus, because they all had a 鈥済enuine desire to improve campus climate,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淥ur conversations were always rigorous, especially when discussing what was going on at other universities.鈥�
Since the working group was formed in 2020, 乱伦视频 has created the Division of Inclusive Excellence and added staff to support its mission. 鈥淲hile we were finishing the report, some of the recommendations were being implemented,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淧eople weren鈥檛 waiting on this report to start working.鈥�

Spangenberg wants members of the 乱伦视频 community to see 鈥渢heir voice鈥� as they read the report and recommendations. 鈥淲e wanted this report to reflect what we heard,鈥� Scott said.

The working group鈥檚 final report and recommendations can be found here.

Carlos Russell, a Brooklyn College professor, began the Black Solidarity Day in 1969 as a demonstration of Black liberation. Over four decades later, Black students at 乱伦视频 implemented the Black Solidarity Conference in 2014, a day of events designed to call the university to action and as an act of solidarity among Black students.

As the university continues to strengthen its efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion, the conference, in its eighth year on campus, will unite Black-identifying students, faculty and staff by providing an avenue through which Black identity, intersectionality and solidarity are explored.

The keynote speaker for the conference is Jaki Shelton Green, the first African American and third woman to be appointed as the North Carolina Poet Laureate. She was reappointed in 2021 for a second term by Governor Roy Cooper. At Duke University, Green teaches documentary poetry at the Center for Documentary Studies. She is a widely respected and decorated poet, being the 2003 recipient of the North Carolina Award for Literature, a 2014 NC Literary Hall of Fame Inductee and a 2019 Academy of American Poet Laureate Fellow. She is also a 2021 recipient of the George School Outstanding Alumni Award.

The Black Solidarity Conference is an opportunity for Black-identified students, faculty and staff to explore and gain a deeper insight into what it means to be Black as a member of the 乱伦视频 community. The conference is open to all students with an opportunity for those who do not identify as Black and those not in the black communities, to explore what it means to be an ally, an anti-racist and to actively fight against anti-Blackness. Throughout the conference, there will be sessions geared towards a deeper exploration of one鈥檚 own cultural and societal understanding, impact, and continued growth.

The conference will center around six pillars:

• Allyship, anti-racism, anti-Black racism
• Wellness in Black communities
• Blackness in a global context
• Intersectionality in Black communities
• Socio-political activism
• Afro-centric education

The conference is free for all 乱伦视频 faculty, staff, students and alumni. There is a $25 fee for any off-campus attendees, which will contribute to registration and food throughout the conference.

If you have specific questions, please contact Simone Royal (sroyal2@elon.edu) or the CREDE (336-278-6516).

2022 Black Solidarity Conference Schedule

• Welcome and lunch 鈥� 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• Keynote Speaker: Jaki Shelton Green, North Carolina Poet Laureate 鈥� 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
• Session #1鈥� 2 p.m. to 2:55 p.m.
• Session #2 – 3 p.m. to 3:55 p.m.
• Session #3 鈥� 4 p.m. to 4:55 p.m.
• Snack break and entertainment 鈥� 5 to 5:15 p.m.
• Roundtable Discussions 鈥� 5:15 to 5:55 p.m.
• Dinner & Closing Charge: Buffie Longmire-Avital, associate professor of psychology and director of the Black Lumen Project 鈥� 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A comprehensive list of events and sessions can be .

To begin this journey, the class chose to deeply engage with the common reading on 鈥淪tamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You鈥� by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, and further explore the complex history documented in this text. As an initial step, members of the class created an expansive timeline that chronicled the history of how racist ideas were created and spread within the context of the United States.

The scholars then transferred a condensed version of this timeline onto poster boards and created a collection of interactive exercises and in-depth discussion questions related to both this history and antiracist action.

Over the past two weeks, the Scholars have used these resources to facilitate meaningful conversations about the Common Reading at College Coffee, as well as with several sections of COR 1100. During these engagements, the Scholars have shared their acquired understanding in ways that promote deeper thinking and dialogue about “Stamped” by first-year students. As the academic year progresses, the Periclean Scholars Class of 2024 intends to both continue their own learning on these topics and utilize this awareness to promote antiracist initiatives on 乱伦视频鈥檚 campus and in the surrounding community.