Amherst College Turns to Isaacson, Miller for Chief Diversity Officer

February 22, 2016 – Amherst College has selected Isaacson, Miller to lead its search for a chief diversity officer. Mariana Cruz resigned as interim chief diversity officer in early October.

Bud Moseley, a vice president in Isaacson, Miller’s Boston office, is leading this search along with Donna Cramer, senior associate.

The college seeks a visionary, strategic, diplomatic, collaborative, and inspiring leader, according to the position outline. The successful candidate will serve as an advisor, advocate, and institutional resource for matters of diversity, equity, inclusion, workplace, culture, and climate.

The incumbent will work closely with the dean of faculty, academic departments, and the chief human resources officer (CHRO) to help identify policies and practices that support the recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty and staff. An added plus: A background in creating, implementing, and overseeing institutional diversity programs within an academic environment.

“A good chief diversity officer will need to be a great listener and someone who can very quickly and systematically get to know our community, our students, and our culture,” said Amherst dean of students Alex Vasquez.


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Part of a novel approach the University intends to use is that students themselves will play an active role in the search process. Some students have been appointed to a search committee, and more students will participate in on-campus interviews with finalists in the spring. The school expects the position to be filled by early summer.

Amherst is among this country’s most diverse and selective liberal arts colleges, renowned for its intellectual rigor. The college has 1,800 students and 200 faculty members. Amherst is a member of the Five-College Consortium, which includes Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Isaacson, Miller is currently engaged in more than 200 active searches, including leading president searches for a number of brand educational institutions: Marist College, Mills College, Washington State University, Loyola University, Converse College, DePauw University, San Jose State University, and Wellesley College among them. The firm has also been retained to search for a president for Central European University based in Budapest.

Just recently, Curry College retained the firm to lead its search for a new chief human resources officer (CHRO). Vice president Alan Wichlei is leading that search with managing associate Liz Vago.

Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media

 

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