King, DiFulvio Appointed to SPHHS Leadership Roles

The School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) announced the appointments of Rodmon King as its new assistant dean for diversity, inclusion and belonging and Gloria DiFulvio as its associate dean for undergraduate academic affairs. DiFulvio takes over the role from Laura Vandenberg, who was recently named associate vice chancellor for research and engagement.

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King, who earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Rochester, brings over a decade's worth of strategic leadership experience to the school. Over his career, he has accumulated a wide range of experience working as an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion at three private liberal arts colleges and in a public university system. His most recent work as dean of institutional equity and inclusion at Connecticut College builds on his prior experience with strategic planning, programming leadership, policy administration and collaboration with stakeholders to advance full participation on college campuses.

“Dr. King’s experience and his vision for moving the scope of diversity, equity and inclusion forward will serve him well in this inaugural role within the SPHHS as our Assistant Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging,” says Dean Anna Maria Siega-Riz. “I’m excited to have him join our leadership team.”

King's previous professional experience includes having served on institutional committees, consortia, and student organizations. During this time, he has cultivated practices and organized initiatives that foster full participation, "an affirmative value focused on creating institutions [and practices] that enable people, whatever their identity, background, or institutional position, to thrive, realize their capabilities, engage meaningfully in institutional life, and contribute to the flourishing of others." (Sturm 2010)

King's work advancing full participation has also engaged the broader community, where he has experience in leading dialogue initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion training in larger community settings. He has also given several invited talks on social justice, institutional transformation, and cultural humility, as well as presentations on best practices at several conferences and panel discussions on inclusion and positive social change.

DiFulvio brings with her over a decade's worth of administrative leadership as the undergraduate program director for the public health sciences (PHS) major. In 2021, she was selected by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) as the winner of the 2021 Riegelman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Public Health Education. This highly competitive national award recognizes faculty who have made exemplary efforts to start or sustain an undergraduate program, collaborated with community partners and other disciplines, and garnered respect and enthusiasm from students.

In addition to her work leading the PHS program, DiFulvio has served on the dean’s anti-racism task force charged with addressing systemic racism in the classroom, in admissions processes, and in faculty and staff hiring within SPHHS. She has also served as a teaching for inclusion, diversity and equity (TIDE) ambassador and is currently leading a team of SPHHS faculty on a mutual mentoring grant-funded project to deepen anti-racist teaching practices across all six SPHHS departments.

"In her as the undergraduate program director for the Public Health Sciences program, Dr. DiFulvio has developed an in-depth understanding of undergraduate student advising, administrative responsibilities, and curriculum development,” says Siega-Riz. “She has also led the school in its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts related to curriculum development and mentoring. She will be an excellent addition to the leadership team in SPHHS.”