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News and Notes: Campus to Launch Chief Diversity Officer Search in Fall

April 18, 2018

UC Merced plans to hire the campus’s first chief diversity officer (CDO), and Chancellor Dorothy Leland wants all campus community members to have a say in the process.

A national search for job candidates is expected to launch in the fall. Before the search begins, students and faculty and staff members have an opportunity to weigh in on how the CDO role will function at UC Merced, desired experience, skills and qualifications in potential candidates, and how the position will be structured.

Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students Jonathan Grady and Director of the Office of Campus Climate De Acker, kickstarted the conversation during a two-hour town hall meeting April 16.

“We need everyone’s feedback to select the ideal candidate for UC Merced,” Grady said.

A CDO is typically responsible for guiding an organization’s efforts to conceptualize, define, nurture, assess and cultivate diversity. A CDO builds support, develops and executes a strategic vision, strives to bring campus members together and holds all stakeholders — students, staff and faculty — accountable. UC Merced’s CDO will report directly to the chancellor.

During the town hall, students and faculty and staff members offered suggestions and a range of requests and criteria to consider in selecting a CDO that included: potential areas of responsibility, good interpersonal skills and familiarity with institutions of higher learning and legal issues, to name a few.

Those who couldn’t attend the town hall meeting can still provide feedback. The plan moving forward is to create a job description during the summer and launch the search when classes resume in Fall 2018. Campus community members can send their suggestions to the following contacts:

Questions? Contact De Acker .

‘Active Mind’ Student Speaker to Discuss Mental Health

Despite a family history of depression, anxiety and substance abuse disorder, no one in Pablo Campos’ family talked about mental health. Without healthy coping skills, he grew up angry and frustrated but didn’t know why he felt that way. During his senior year in high school, he attempted suicide. Campos learned that in addition to depression, he had undiagnosed Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Armed with that information, he began his road to recovery.

Campos will share his story April 25 during an event co-sponsored by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Health Promotions and the Campus Activities Board . The free event starts at 7 p.m. in the Dr. Lakireddy Auditorium (COB 102) and is open to all campus community members. Refreshments will be served after the presentation.

Campos travels to college campuses across the nation. He talks publicly about his experiences, the stigma surrounding mental health and how a lack of knowledge regarding resources can delay recovery. He travels to campuses as part of the Active Minds Speakers Bureau program. Active Minds is a nonprofit organization that empowers students to speak openly about mental health to educate others and encourage them to seek help. UC Merced received a grant funded by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) and Active Minds to bring Campos to campus.

“The grant process was competitive, and we are thrilled that UC Merced was selected as one of the campuses where Pablo will be speaking this semester,” said Myrla Seibold, CAPS’s associate director.

Earth Day, a Fairy Shrimp Festival and Shakespeare in Yosemite Cap Earth Month

Earth Month is in full swing at UC Merced and the celebration continues throughout April. This year’s festivities, presented by the Office of Sustainability and the ASUCM Sustainability Council, have included trainings on proper waste disposal and recycling, tours of UC Merced’s Central Plant and cooking demonstrations.

Don’t fret if you haven’t joined in the fun celebration of Mother Earth and the environment. Campus community members can still enjoy the following events:

  • Thursday, April 19 – Earth Day Celebration, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. along Scholars Lane.
  • Friday, April 20 – Fairy Shrimp Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wallace-Dutra Amphitheater.
  • Friday, April 20 to Sunday, April 23 – Shakespeare in Yosemite, Yosemite National Park. Showtimes Friday and Saturday are 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit UC Merced’s Shakespeare in Yosemite page for details.
  • April 27 – Native Flowers workshop, 1-3 p.m. at the campus garden, located just south of Ranchers Road near Valley Terraces and Half Dome student housing.
  • April 30 – Plant, Rest and Relax, 7-8 p.m. in the Leo and Dottie Kolligian Library, Room 397.

For more information, contact Amandip Singh .

Student Success Interns to Showcase Work

Come and learn about projects UC Merced’s Student Success Internship (SSI) participants accomplished during the 2018 SSI Annual Poster Symposium happening 4-5:30 p.m. April 25 in the Kolligian Library, Room 355.

UC Merced’s SSI students will display their work and efforts through poster presentations to fellow students, faculty staff and invited guests. Refreshments will be served.

Now in its third year, the internship program receives funding from the UC Office of the President, UC Merced’s Division of Student Affairs and the Office Undergraduate Education. With approximately 30 students, the program pairs students with supervisors-mentors who guide and support the intern as they undertake professional and institutionally meaningful projects.