July 1, 2024

Dear William Paterson Community,

I am pleased to announce the establishment of the new Division of Equity and Inclusion under the leadership of Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Jeanne Arnold. As part of this change, the Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance and Title IX Coordinator Sobia Mahmood, J.D. will join the new Division from the Office of the President, as Affirmative Action and Title IX issues are consistent with Dr. Arnold’s responsibilities.

Also, in consultation with Vice President for Student Development Miki Cammarata and with her support, we are moving the Center for Diversity & Inclusion, the Black Cultural Center, and the Center for Latinidad from Student Development to the new Division so that the University’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for both students and employees are under one roof, where they can be better coordinated and more effective.

The new Division will bring our equity and inclusion efforts into alignment with best practices across higher education, bringing a portfolio of related responsibilities under what is now a Cabinet position. Such a change was discussed last year as we conducted our CDO search, and it accomplishes a goal that Dr. Arnold and I discussed when she first joined William Paterson in January.

While institutions elsewhere are unfortunately scaling back their work on this front in response to misguided political pressure, I am proud that William Paterson is continuing its commitment to creating and nurturing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning, living, and working environment for all of our students and employees.