Diversity Councils, Commissions and Committees
The following organizations constitute a formal university infrastructure of committees at the university-wide, divisional, college and departmental levels devoted to community, equity and diversity at the University of Rhode Island. The President and the Chief Diversity Officer support this wide network of diversity organizations, which enable the University to fully integrate its efforts to promote community, equity and diversity at the University of Rhode Island. While many of these organizations function autonomously, the Chief Diversity Officer communicates and collaborates with these committees as liaison for the President to ensure that all initiatives undertaken serve the overall accomplishment of strategic university diversity goals.
The list below may not constitute the totality of diversity organizations at the University. As the list of organizations devoted to diversity and inclusion become known, they will be added to the list.
Presidential Councils and Commissions
Equity Council - The Equity Council is a University-wide advisory and advocacy group for issues of diversity and equity for the entire University community. It's purpose is to provide a forum for University individuals, groups, committees, commissions, and offices that are active in University diversity, community and equity issues and to make recommendations to the President and the Chief Diversity Officer. The chairpersons of each of the Presidential diversity commissions and other university diversity committees are represented on the Equity Council.
Contact: Lynne Derbyshire or Michelle Fontes-Barros
President’s Commission on the Status of Women - The President’s Commission on the Status of Women promotes an environment free of gender-based discrimination by establishing an agenda around issues that concern women at the university and recommending to the President and Chief Diversity Officer strategies to enhance or change existing policies and programs at URI. To accomplish its mission, the Commission shall work with members of the university community and in collaboration with organizations and structures within the University of Rhode Island.
Contact: Karen Sherman or Faye Boudreaux-Bartels
President’s Commission on LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) - The President’s Commission for LGBTQ works collaboratively to ensure that LGBTQ issues concerning discrimination, harassment, and safety of LGBTQ students, faculty and staff are addressed. The Commission will research, monitor, and report on the status of the LGBTQ community on campus and of institutional initiatives; identify major needs and topics of concern; propose policies and programs to address these needs and concerns, collaborate with campus organizations with complementary goals and objectives; monitor the effectiveness of any proposed policies and initiatives upon implementation; and regularly communicate the progress of these efforts to the university and surrounding community. The President’s Commission on LGBTQ will report and make recommendations to the President and Chief Diversity Officer.
Contact: Ann Morrissey or Lynn McKinney
President’s Commission on the Status of Students, Staff, and Faculty of Color - The President’s Commission on Faculty, Staff, and Students of Color will report and make recommendations to the President and Chief Diversity Officer, acting as a catalyst and advocate in diversifying and strengthening the University of Rhode Island as a university community that promotes racial equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. The Commission will: research, monitor, and report on the status of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups on campus, and of institutional racial diversity initiatives; identify major needs and topics of concern; propose policies and programs to address these needs and concerns, and to promote, maintain and publicize strategic focus on these issues; collaborate with campus organizations with complementary goals and objectives; monitor the effectiveness of any proposed policies and initiatives upon implementation.
Contact: Katrina Dorsey or Gordon Dash
Division, College-Wide and Department Diversity Committees
The commitment to community, equity and diversity at the University extends beyond the university wide Presidential Councils and Commissions. Numerous initiatives are also organized and maintained by the various divisions, colleges and departments of the University.
Additional information about these initiatives can be provided by contacting the contacts listed below or by visiting their respective web pages. These councils, commissions and committees have responsibility for the content and maintenance of their web pages.
Division, College and Department Diversity Committees
Division of Academic Affairs Contact: Laura Beauvais
College Diversity Committees
College of Arts & Sciences - Contact: Winnie Brownell
College of Business Administration - Contact: Kathryn Jervis
College of Continuing Education - Contact: Tammy Vargas-Warner
College of Engineering - Contact: Chuck Watson
College of Human Science and Services - Contact: Jacqueline Sparks
or Kyle Kusz
College of Nursing - Contact: Wylie Dassie
College of Pharmacy - Contact: Anita Jackson or Noemi Ramos-Desimone
Information Technology Services - Contact: Garry Bozylinsky
Graduate School - Office of Graduate Diversity Affairs - Contact: Alycia Mosley-Austin
University College - Contact: David Hayes or Kim Washor
Division of Administration & Finance - Contact: Liliana Costa
Department of Athletics - Contact: Sue Bergen
Division of Student Affairs - Contact: Pamela Rohland
Housing and Residential Life - HRL Diversity Committee -
Contact: Chip Yensan or Bryana White
Division of Research and Economic Development - Contact: Melissa McCarthy
Division of University Advancement - Contact: Michelle Fontes-Barros
If you have any questions or updates for this page please contact Joseph Santiago.
President's Message
The University of Rhode Island believes deeply in the value of celebrating differences. From its very beginning under Roger Williams, Rhode Islanders were different: independent in thought and action and tolerant of the beliefs of others. As a state, we are "a lively experiment"!
