Eastern Connecticut State University
PAE-6: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The mission of the Diversity and Social Justice Council is to support and monitor the University’s evolution towards inclusive excellence through the promotion of coherence, cohesion, and collaboration of diversity initiatives and institutional structures within and across organizational systems at Eastern Connecticut State University. Eastern Connecticut State University values the diversity of its students, faculty, and staff. Differences in race, ethnicity, national origin, class, religion, learning styles, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ideology, and other aspects of human variation and characterization, including but not limited to those protected by law and CSU and Eastern policies, enrich the educational experiences and social and intellectual development of students and create a rich cultural environment. Eastern is committed to ensuring that regardless of their differences, all members of the Eastern community are challenged to achieve their full potential and are supported in their pursuit of that goal.

Council Structure Chair Eunice Matthews-Armstead Sociology matthewse@easternct.edu Members Name Department Email Angel Beltran Facilities beltrana@easternct.edu Theresa Bouley Education bouleyt@easternct.edu Carmen Cid School of Arts & Sciences cid@easternct.edu Walter Diaz Student Affairs diazw@easternct.edu Despina Messologitis Student messologitisd@my.easternct.edu Suzanne Dowling Counseling dowlings@easternct.edu Kimberly Dugan Sociology dugank@easternct.edu Carlos Escoto Psychology escotoc@easternct.edu Rhona Free Academic Affairs free@easternct.edu Madeline Fugere Psychology fugerem@easternct.edu Jeffrey Garewski Public Safety garewskij@easternct.edu Jaime Gomez School of Edu & Prof Studies gomezj@easternct.edu Lisa Hamilton Public Safety hamiltonl@easternct.edu Susan Heyward Advising Center heyward@easternct.edu James Howarth Finance and Administration howarthja@easternct.edu Edith Mavor Registrar mavor@easternct.edu Michael Pernal Executive VP's Office pernal@easternct.edu LaQuana Price Admissions pricel@easternct.edu Pamela Starr AccessAbility Services starrp@easternct.edu Denis Ugurlu Student ugurlud@stu.easternct.edu

Eastern has an Associate Vice President within the Office of Equity and Diversity. There is also a diversity and justice council composed of students faculty and staff. This Office advises the President and supports the University community on hiring practices and procedures, affirmative action plans, equity policies and civil rights issues. This Office is also responsible for ensuring the University's compliance with all state and federal laws pertaining to equity and diversity. The Office of Equity and Diversity continues Eastern's efforts to promote a positive campus environment through the implementation of training and related services in collaboration with other departments of the University.

Dr. Close will administer issues related to diversity and equity, affirmative action, and non-discrimination for the University. Dr. Close will assume his position on June 1, 2012.