Three candidates named for vice provost for diversity position

Three candidates have been chosen as finalists to be the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s vice provost for diversity.

The candidates are: William Lewis, alumni fellow at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia; Ron Quincy, professor of professional practice, academic director and principal investigator at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey; and Patrick Sims, interim vice provost and chief diversity officer at UW–Madison.

Presentations by the candidates are open to campus as well as the rest of the public. With supervisory permission, employees can attend in pay status if the presentation falls during normal work hours. The presentations are as follows:

April 13, Quincy, Gordon Commons, Overture room (241A)

April 14, Lewis, Gordon Commons, Overture room (241A)

April 16, Sims, Gordon Commons, Concerto room (241B)

All presentations will be held from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m.

There will also be discussions specifically for students on the same day as presentations from 6 to 7 p.m. in Union South, TITU. Pizza will be served.

The candidates’ presentations will be recorded and posted to the university’s search site, where individuals can read candidates’ CVs and submit feedback on the finalists at (http://provost.wisc.edu/vp-diversity.htm )

Lewis served as vice president in the office for diversity and inclusion at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University from September 2010 to June 2014. He has a doctorate in higher education administration from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, a master’s in social work and bachelor’s degree in criminal science, both from Indiana University–Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Quincy is the former founding director of the Center for Nonprofit Management and Governance in the School of Social Work, Rutgers University. He has a doctorate in the social sciences from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, a master’s in urban affairs and a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, both from the University of Detroit.

Sims has served as the interim vice provost and chief diversity officer for UW–Madison since 2013. He is a professor of theatre and founding director of the Theatre for Cultural & Social Awareness at UW–Madison. He has a master’s in theatre from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and theatre studies from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

The Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement supports the mission of UW–Madison as it works to create a diverse, inclusive, and excellent learning and work environment for all students, faculty, staff, alumni and others who partner with the university. This is accomplished through collaboration, leadership and seeding of new initiatives, consultative advice, and the coordination of numerous institutional initiatives, while supervising the key diversity units that comprise the division.

While the vice provost for diversity leads a number of institutional initiatives, the position also provides leadership, coordination and support for the many efforts underway in schools, colleges and other administrative units across the campus.

Principal duties of the vice provost for diversity include serving as a member of the provost’s senior leadership team; providing guidance and recommendations to the chancellor, provost and other campus and UW System leadership in matters of diversity, equity and inclusion; overseeing implementation of UW–Madison’s new Diversity Framework and working with campus units to create and maintain robust pathways for diverse and underrepresented populations; and ensuring that students experience the support and welcoming climate necessary for their success.

A 15-member committee made up of faculty, staff and students and chaired by Brian Yandell, professor of statistics and horticulture, screened a pool of applicants and recommended the three finalists to Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf.