Barrows Assumes Role As Point Person on Diversity

It’s a new title — but not new territory — for Paul Barrows.

In January, Barrows left his position as associate dean of the Graduate School and joined the Provost’s Office full time as an associate vice chancellor for academic services and campus diversity.

Under a staff reorganization put in place by Chancellor David Ward, Barrows is the campus’ designated point person on diversity.

“I’ve been working in this area since I arrived on campus in April 1989 as a special assistant to former Chancellor Donna Shalala,” says Barrows. “I’ve been in these venues for a long time.”

Since 1994, Barrows had been splitting time between the Graduate School and as an associate vice chancellor in the Provost’s Office in charge of Admissions, Career Advising and Placement Services, Office of the Registrar and Student Financial Services. He was appointed associate dean of the Graduate School in 1991.

In his new position, Barrows is responsible for strengthening diversity efforts related to students, the university workforce, the campus climate and outreach initiatives.

Assisting Barrows with diversity issues under the reorganization are Assistant Vice Chancellor Akbar Ally and Gregory Vincent, director of the Equity and Diversity Resource Center.

Ally’s focus will be student diversity, and Vincent, with the additional title of assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs, is the point person on workforce diversity. Vincent will jointly report to the Provost’s Office and the Office of Legal and Executive Affairs.

“This reorganization reinforces my unwavering commitment to diversity on this campus,” says Ward.

“We believe a team approach is beneficial and necessary to improve our diversity efforts with students, faculty and staff as part of shared governance and to improve our relationships with outside constituencies.”

Barrows says the charge from Ward is to specifically focus on:

• creating a strategic plan to recruit students of color, particularly undergraduates;
• helping schools, colleges and major units to strengthen the retention of minority students and improve the campus climate; and
• working with the Campus Strategic Hiring Initiative regarding minority faculty.

“I look forward to working with the chancellor, the provost, all of my colleagues across campus and students to move this agenda forward,” says Barrows.

Ally is hoping to forge stronger relationships with faculty, staff and students; campus deans and directors; alumni; the Committee on Academic Affairs of Minority/Disadvantaged Students; and external communities to advance campus diversity efforts.

“We must work closely with minorities and non-minorities on and off campus, and not just send a mandate from the administration,” Ally says.

Vincent will support professional development among campus management and work to improve the recruitment of minority faculty and staff. He is also leading the effort with Equity and Diversity Committees to address climate and culture issues in their schools, colleges and major units.

“As our city, state and nation become more diverse, we have to be poised to address diversity effectively on campus,” Vincent says.