Alliant Energy/Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Achievement Award Deadline October 3, 2008 Position Opportunity - Finance and Human Resource Representative Position Announcement Job Description   Diversity Recognition Tool   Iowa FIRST

Welcome to a new academic year at The University of Iowa!

The run-up to the 2008 academic year has certainly been unique, and challenging. The flooding of Iowa City, The University of Iowa campus and surrounding communities has brought a level of devastation and loss that touches all us in some way.
Flood Recovery

Some of the challenges we face include relocated classes, lost, interrupted and damaged research, and building closures. Many members of our community have lost or damaged homes, with interrupted lives and lost possessions and memories.

But the flood has also provided us with opportunities. We have new opportunities to connect with our neighbors, as we saw before the flood with the sandbagging efforts, and in its immediate aftermath in the outpouring of support to meet the needs of those affected. Since the flood, our students and staff have continued their volunteer efforts, and faculty research in hydraulics, public heath and other areas are playing important roles in the recovery and post flood planning process. As our own museum is closed for recovery, university archivists are helping the African American Museum and Check and Slovak Museum of Cedar Rapids with their efforts to save damaged items in their collection.

This is also a year of new opportunities, including the expansion of our One Community, One Book project. By providing books to incoming first year students, we hope to stimulate an exciting discussion about world events, human rights, and different cultures. I encourage you to take this opportunity to be involved in this effort.

We are also excited to welcome to the campus our new Executive Vice President and Provost, Wallace Loh. Like President Mason, Provost Loh is a vocal supporter of diversity, with demonstrated commitment to creating a climate where all can feel accepted and able to succeed.

At Iowa we understand the link between diversity and excellence in education: the University of Iowa not only accepts but embraces “our responsibility to create a welcoming environment for all members of the community.” This commitment includes underrepresented faculty, staff, and students; persons with disabilities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered persons; persons of disadvantaged socioeconomic status; and nontraditional and international students.

My role, as Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Associate Provost for Diversity, is to help advance our diversity goals in all ways possible. Working with my colleagues and friends in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity and the Center for Diversity & Enrichment, among others, our goal is to coordinate our central diversity efforts, including those related to the recruitment, retention, and success of diverse faculty, students, and staff, and ensuring a warm, welcoming, respectful, and inclusive climate where all can succeed.

In addition to overseeing the work of EOD and CDE, my office is working to provide opportunities for faculty and staff, including through the faculty and staff diversity councils, which now number six, with the addition of the Native American Council, and events such as the New Faculty of Color Reception and faculty mentoring workshops. Through initiatives such as Community Conversations and our membership in Diversity Focus, we hope to connect with the community and our partners in diversity.

Please consider participating in some of the programming initiatives underway for 2008-9, including the Iowa FIRST recruitment project, the 2008 Catalyst Awards, or by joining us at next year’s Cultural Diversity Festival, or at one of the many other cultural events in our community. If you know a middle-school or high school student, you might pass on information about our many summer programs.

Finally, while we hope your experience at The University of Iowa will be a positive one, should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my office.

Best wishes for a successful and enriching year!

Marcella David
Special Assistant to the President for Equal Opportunity and Diversity & Associate Provost for Diversity

 

Marcella David's faculty biography.