The University of Arkansas has formed a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council to help guide university DEI initiatives and advise Chancellor Joe Steinmetz.
The 20-member council is composed of University of Arkansas students, faculty, staff, alumni, community leaders and business leaders.
There are three student members: Elijah Conley, Alex Davis and Warrington Sebree. Four faculty members sit on the council; they include Calvin White, Meera Kumar, Mary Margaret Hui and Sherry Muir. Five staff members, including Elvis Moya, Erika Gamboa, Cpl. Allen Porter, Amita Patel and Yassaman Mirdamai, have been selected for the council. Four alumni, including Mario Ramirez, Janie Simms Hipp, Connie Lewis Lensing and Ritche Manley Boweden, were also selected.
The two community members include J.B. Hunt chief commercial officer Shelley Simpson and Home Depot vice president and chief accounting officer Steve Gibbs. The administrative representatives include Anthony DiNicola and Kim Needy.
“I am grateful that each of these individuals answered the call to come to the table to discuss matters related to the broadest possible definition of diversity and inclusion,” Steinmetz said in a statement. “As we convene volunteers to help us be successful in fundraising campaigns, it makes sense to convene volunteers to help us be successful in other types of campaigns as well. As chancellor, I can’t be everywhere at once, and I depend on insights provided by many stakeholders to help me know and understand the current climate to inform current actions and future directions.”
The council will hold quarterly meetings with members advancing initiatives between meetings.
READ MORE: ASBTDC – “We Grow Communities”
