UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes has appointed a search advisory committee to assist in the selection of the next vice chancellor for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer.  

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Kerri Thompson Tillett, associate vice chancellor for equal opportunity and access, has been appointed interim vice chancellor for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Tillett will succeed Nefertiti Walker, who was named deputy vice president for academic and student affairs and equity for the UMass system by UMass President Marty Meehan earlier this year.

The search advisory committee will be co-chaired by John Kennedy, vice chancellor for university relations, and Alaina Macaulay, senior director for inclusion and strategic engagement.

Members of the committee include:

• Sergio Breña, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Jamilla Deria, Director of Fine Arts Center
• Arwen Duffy, President, UMass Amherst Foundation
• Haivan Hoang, Associate Professor, Department of English
• Francis Lo, Grants and Contracts Coordinator, Partnership for Worker Education
• Pius Mhapsekar, Graduate Student Senate Representative, College of Engineering
• Tanyi Muanya, Student Government Assocation Representative, Commonwealth Honors College
• Cheryl Ponder, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advocacy, Inclusion and Support Programs
• (Courtney) Terrance Proctor, Skilled Laborer
• James Roche, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management
• Hava Siegelmann, Professor, Co-Chair, Status of Diversity Council
• Allison Vorderstrasse, Dean, Elaine Marieb College of Nursing

The search firm Isaacson Miller will assist the committee with its work. The chancellor has asked the committee to forward its recommendation to him by April 30, 2024.