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Columns::July 21, 2003
Hire demands: Tuition hike pays for more faculty in high-demand majors
Self-study concludes with praise from accrediting agency
Paul Torrance, professor emeritus of educational psychology, dies
Larry Nackerud is named interim dean in School of Social Work
Free counseling services now offered for employees
Retirees
A proper introduction
Campus News
U. of Nebraska administrator gets diversity position at UGA
By Larry B. Dendy
ldendy@uga.edu
Keith D. Parker, who has helped develop and manage programs to recruit, teach and support minority and underrepresented
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Keith Parker
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students at the University of Nebraska for 10 years, has been chosen to become associate provost for institutional diversity at the University of Georgia.
Arnett C. Mace Jr., UGA senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, selected Parker from a group of five finalists identified by the committee carrying out the national search. The search committee, chaired by Art Dunning, vice president for public service and outreach, considered more than 100 candidates. Parker joined UGA July 15. He succeeds Rodney Bennett, dean of students, who has held the job on an interim basis since last October.
Parker was coordinator for undergraduate research in the sociology department at the University of Nebraska-- Lincoln. He joined the university in 1993 as director of African-American and African studies and has served as special assistant for minority affairs to the dean of graduate studies and as assistant and associate dean of graduate studies.
He has coordinated a collaborative program between the University of Nebraska and three other universities that encouraged underrepresented students to pursue careers in science and engineering. He has also spoken and written widely about such topics as educational opportunities for African Americans and health and crime issues for minorities.
“The search committee forwarded an excellent slate of finalists,” says Mace. “However, in the end, Keith Parker emerged as the best fit for the job because of his strong academic and administrative background in higher education and institutional diversity initiatives.”
Parker will oversee UGA’s efforts to promote equity and diversity among students, faculty and staff. His office’s responsibilities include improving existing diversity programs; helping implement strategies to recruit and retain minority students, faculty and staff; ensuring that UGA’s curricula meets the needs of all students; and finding better ways to inform middle and high school students about educational opportunities at UGA. President Michael F. Adams says Parker’s role is all the more important in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on race-conscious admissions policies at universities.
“The Office of Institutional Diversity is a key component to our commitment to enhancing a culture of inclusiveness within the UGA community,” says Adams. “This administration will work with and support this office’s charge of coordinating initiatives which will help us to recruit and retain minority faculty, staff and students, as well as programs that will help us foster the type of social and intellectual climate that is welcoming to persons of all backgrounds.” |
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