Friday, June 27, 2003

WRITER: Larry B. Dendy, 706/542-8078, ldendy@uga.edu
CONTACT: Arnett Mace, 706/542-5806, amace@uga.edu

KEITH PARKER CHOSEN FOR INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY POST AT UGA

ATHENS, Ga. – Keith D. Parker, who has helped develop and manage programs to recruit, teach and support minority and underrepresented students at the University of Nebraska for 10 years, has been chosen to become associate provost for institutional diversity at the University of Georgia.

UGA Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Arnett C. Mace Jr. selected Parker from a group of five finalists identified by a search committee in a national search. The search committee, chaired by Art Dunning, vice president for public service and outreach at UGA, considered more than 100 candidates. Pending approval by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, Parker will join UGA July 15. He will succeed Rodney Bennett, UGA’s dean of students, who has held the job on an interim basis since last October.

Parker is currently 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 encourages 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 to me and President Adams an excellent slate of finalists, all of whom possessed a variety of skills and talents," said 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. I am pleased that Dr. Parker will be joining us and providing vital leadership to significantly enhance diversity within the University of Georgia."

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.

UGA President Michael F. Adams said 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 University of Georgia community," said 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."

Parker coordinated the University of Nebraska’s African-American and African studies program for five years, and for another five years held positions in the Graduate School, where he helped graduate departments implement programs to recruit and keep students from geographically, ethnically and economically underrepresented areas. He also coordinated a multicultural teaching fellowship program, and developed an enrichment program for underrepresented graduate students.

Among Parker’s duties was coordinating the Ronald McNair Postbaccalaureate Degree Program. Named for the African-American astronaut killed in the 1986 Challenger space shuttle explosion, the program helps disadvantaged students attain doctoral degrees. The U.S. Department of Education provided more than $450,000 for the program.

Parker also oversaw the EPSCoR Minority Program, a cooperative effort between the University of Nebraska campuses at Lincoln and Omaha, the Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University to encourage students from underrepresented areas to pursue careers in science and engineering, and to take part in special research programs in these areas.

As the sociology department’s undergraduate research coordinator, a position he has held since January, he oversees the department’s internship program, supervises undergraduate interns and advises honors students.

Much of Parker’s research has focused on how such problems as crime, drugs and poor health affect African Americans and other minorities. He conducted a study of substance abuse treatment under a $436,807 contract with the Nebraska Department of Public Institutions, and was part of a study on health services for rural minorities funded by a $140,767 federal grant.

He has published articles in many academic journals and spoken at numerous professional meetings including conferences of the American Society of Criminology and the National Council for Black Studies.

Parker earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Delta State University and master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from Mississippi State University.

In 1998, he won the first "Fulfilling the Dream" award from the University of Nebraska and the next year won the Multicultural Education Recognition and Appreciation Award from the Lincoln chapter of the NAACP. He is listed in "Who’s Who In America" and has been included in "Who’s Who in Science and Engineering" and "Who’s Who Among African Americans."

##