University President John T. Casteen's office has named Associate Dean of Students Angela Davis and Politics Prof. Michael Smith as co-chairs of the President's Commission on Diversity and Equity. Plans for formation of the commission were announced in April along with plans for two Board of Visitors special committees for diversity.
The commission is charged with locating inadequacies in University programming and creating solutions by reviewing previous University studies on diversity and equity and by looking at strategies used by other institutions.
The commission is expected to present their findings along with a "best practices" model in May of next year.
The commission was born out of concern following a series of incidents at the University last year which raised concerns about diversity on Grounds, including a fraternity scandal involving students in blackface and an allegedly racially-motivated assault on Student Council presidential candidate Daisy Lundy.
"Recent events at the University have been a sad reminder that there is still much work to be done to create a truly open and civil community," Casteen said in April. "While that work takes on a new urgency, I am convinced that we have the commitment and dedication of our students, staff and faculty in assessing where we are and creating a vision of where we must go to achieve a more welcoming community for every individual."
Davis and Smith will work to guide this process, said Casteen's Chief of Staff Amy Cronin.
"They will set the agenda for the commission
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