Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 8/23/07 Section: Summer Recap

Media Credit: Jeffrey LaMonde Denise O'Neil Green returns to CMU as the new associate vice president for institutional diversity. Having left CMU to pursue her Ph. D. at Michigan State University,Green returns to put into practice her research on diversity. [Click to enlarge]

Denise O'Neil Green was already busy recruiting this summer after only three weeks on the job.

As associate vice president for institutional diversity, university recruitment is one of Green's roles at Central, but this is something else.

She's starting to put out the call for a different type of student - one who wants to join a diversity council.

Green was named the sixth finalist for the position last April and was introduced as the diversity chief on May 22.

The council is one way Green wants to let students talk to administrators about the climate on campus and a way to have the administration listen to and act on those suggestions.

"This is an opportunity for students to gain additional leadership skills, gain access to me and to share with me what they know and what ways we can help," she said.

Michael Powell had served as interim associate vice president for institutional diversity after Maureen Eke stepped down in April 2006.

Green is looking for a variety of students and community leaders who are interested in changing CMU's climate.

She mentioned possible representation from fraternities, sororities, service organizations and Student Government Association members, as well as local activists.

Nominations for the group would be sent to Green early in the fall semester, she said.

"(My) hope is to at least initiate it this semester, it may not meet often at this point," she said. "Eventually, I would like it to meet once a month, if not every other month."



Compliance assurance

One of Green's major tasks will be giving CMU's diversity policies a check-up.

Continued...

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