Amanda Papke

Maureen Eke said she understands the issues diversity encompasses and is
willing to take on a new challenge to meet the needs of all CMU students.

Eke, associate vice president for institutional diversity and international
education, was appointed coordinator of the Disabilities, Adaptive Technology,
and Accommodations Steering Committee earlier this month.

“I am interested in expanding the ways we think of diversity at CMU,”
Eke said. “And part of that is helping people to realize that they can’t
talk about diversity without paying attention to disability issues.”

The coordinator’s job is to see that CMU is in compliance with American Disabilities Act requirements.

Eke said her position correlates with her new job because student disabilities are a part of the diversity concern at CMU.

“Coordinating this is a new journey,” Eke said. “It is quite different from everything else I do.”

Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Thomas Storch
said Eke possesses the qualities needed to be successful at this job.

“Maureen has the background, the drive and the ability to oversee these responsibilities for the whole campus,” Storch said.

The steering committee is sponsoring the 2003 Campus ADA Conference entitled,
“So Each May Learn: Creating Positive Learning Environments,” Tuesday and
Wednesday.  

The committee usually meets three times a year or as needed.

Through this position, Eke said she hopes to improve the academic success of CMU students.

“Apart from making sure CMU is in compliance with ADA regulation, I hope
at the end of the day, that we can begin to talk about how people’s disabilities,
visible and invisible ones, affect their learning experience and success
as students or employees of CMU,” Eke said.

Storch said he has confidence Eke will accomplish the responsibilities of her newly acquired position.

“I believe under her guidance, we will be able to address the broad area of diversity on our campus,” Storch said.

E-mail the author: Megan N. vonDaggenhausen