Breaking: Departments to merge, create Division of University Engagement and Student Affairs
Dr. Shawna Patterson-Stephens speaks at Get Acquainted Day Wednesday, August 30 outside Warriner Hall. Patterson-Stephens serves as the Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging and Chief Diversity Officer at CMU.
On Thursday, April 17, Central Michigan University President Neil MacKinnon announced a change to executive leadership structure: the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will merge with the Division of Student Affairs.
According to a press release, this new Division of University Engagement and Student Affairs will be led by current Vice President of Student Excellence and Belonging Shawna Patterson-Stephens. Her new title, effective May 16, is Vice President of University Engagement and Student Affairs.
This is timed to coincide with the retirement of Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Stan Shingles.
"In the weeks ahead, Patterson-Stephens will work alongside ... Shingles, as well as with staff and students, to map out the organizational structure of the new Division of University Engagement and Student Affairs," according to the release. "From those discussions, leaders will develop a new webpage for the unit and communicate planned changes with the campus community throughout the summer."
In the release, MacKinnon said stabilizing leadership for the division was a goal for his first year as president.
“Dr. Patterson-Stephens is well-known and well-respected at CMU, and she is deeply familiar with our university culture, values, policies and practices,” MacKinnon said. “She has more than twenty years of experience in higher education in roles that center on student success and fostering a culture of inclusion.”
The change is intended to align university efforts to meet community needs, according to the release.
“We will continue to emphasize inclusive practices in all we do, from our academic offerings to our co-curricular activities, as well as in our policies, processes and procedures," Patterson-Stephens said.
The release did not offer further information about staffing, budget or functional changes.
This is a developing story. Please check back in at cm-life.com for more information as it becomes available.
