Get to Know the Office of Equity & Inclusion
History
The Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) was established in July 2009 by combining the services of the Office of Affirmative Action and the Office of Women’s Affairs, as well as adding additional resources and programs in diversity initiatives. For years, OEI has worked to advocate for an equitable and inclusive work and learning environment by monitoring, coordinating, and overseeing the University’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. The office focused on activities in campus diversity, LGBT community issues, women’s affairs and affirmative action, and served the entire UD community of students, faculty, and staff.
Making UD a more diverse, equitable and inclusive campus is a Path to Prominence core value and strategic milestone. It has been recognized that increasing diversity and ensuring equity at UD requires systemic change, so cultivating diversity in all areas remains a primary and sustained focus. OEI has served as the administrative arm in diversity initiatives, and worked closely to support the Diversity and Equity Commission. In late 2011, President Harker announced the formation of the President’s Diversity Initiative (PDI) to coordinate the many diversity efforts under way and to set annual priorities and timelines around specific areas of action. Complementing PDI, the Center for the Study of Diversity was established within the College of Arts and Sciences to serve as the academic arm of UD’s diversity efforts.
In the summer of 2012, with wholehearted excitement about the new initiatives and institutional scope of diversity, OEI worked to realign its mission and functions to better serve UD. Many of the diversity programs and institutional awards that OEI has been responsible for in the past have been placed under PDI. Rather than focus on specific areas of historical concern, such as LGBT issues and women’s affairs, OEI is taking a broader, more inclusive focus to its role on UD’s campus. At its core, OEI works to educate our campus community about their rights, and to provide guidance and support through University processes and opportunities.
In 2014, OEI underwent another transition. The office became responsible for Title IX compliance but continued to be responsible for non-discrimination and affirmative action policy and compliance as well as offering support to our campus community for concerns in the learning and work environment. We continue to offer educational training and workshops to develop the awareness and knowledge of individuals’ differences and similarities. Our office works in conjunction with the Vice Provost for Diversity to support all campus diversity and inclusion initiatives and efforts.
Dawn Barker Floyd, J.D.
OEI Director & University Title IX Coordinator
Dawn brings to the University more than twenty-five years of experience in higher education and law. Most recently, Dawn worked at Lenoir-Rhyne University as the Director of University Compliance and Title IX Coordinator and prior to that she was the Title IX Coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Dawn began her career in higher education in student life, serving as the Assistant Director of Student Life at Manhattan School of Music and a Residence Life Area Coordinator at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Dawn is an attorney licensed to practice in New York and North Carolina and worked for ten years at private law firms as a litigation associate on a variety of legal matters. Dawn earned her B.A. and M.A. in Higher Education Administration from Appalachian State University and her J.D. form the City University of New York School of Law.
Adam Foley, Ph.D. (they/them)
Director- Diversity Education, Assessment, & Outreach
Adam currently serves as Director for Diversity Education, Assessment, and Outreach at the University of Delaware, as well as holding adjunct faculty posts in the Departments of Women and Gender Studies and Human Development and Family Studies. They joined the University of Delaware in 2016 after 10 years at Iowa State University, where they received their Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, with a focus in Multicultural Education. They bring a passion for multiculturalism and diversity education, as well as extensive experience in multicultural and leadership program development, curriculum design and implementation, research and assessment, and critical multicultural education. Their research interests include sexuality education, gender, feminist identity development, and the multicultural components of these areas.
Adam began their career in Residence Life and Student Affairs as a Residence Hall Director at Iowa State University in 2005 after completing their M.A.Ed. in Student Affairs and Higher Education at Virginia Tech. In their time in Student Affairs, they participated extensively in multicultural education efforts for faculty, staff, and students. They advised numerous student leadership organizations, and developed campus-wide workshops, conference, and training opportunities for the university community.
They have more than 20 years of university teaching experience, and has designed and implemented numerous courses, ranging from Multicultural Education to Feminist Theory, as well as various seminar courses on social science topics. Adam received their bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities and grew up just outside Minneapolis. When they aren’t working, they are pursuing a passion for endurance running, and you can look for them at the starting line of many different road and trail races up and down the east coast. They live in Wilmington with their partner, Melissa.
Eugene Smith, EdD
Assistant Director, Office of Equity & Inclusion & Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Dr. Eugene Smith has nine years of professional experience in student affairs, resource management, organizational strategy, change management, and program development. His experience includes policy and advocacy, diversity and anti-racist initiatives, and academic success programs for low-income and underrepresented populations.
Eugene has served as the Assistant Director for the Office of Student Success as well as the Title IX Coordinator for Students at Frederick Community College. While there, he oversaw the PASS (Partnership to Achieving Student Success) program, a two-year retention program that assists low-income first-year students and adult learners in transitioning to college. As the Title IX Coordinator for Students, his role consisted of coordinating and monitoring the college’s compliance with Title IX, state civil rights requirements, prevention efforts, and implementation of learning and development in discrimination.
Additionally, Eugene served at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) as the Assistant Director for the Center for Identity and Inclusion while also serving as a Title IX Investigator. He created persistence, retention, and diversity initiatives which fostered a positive sense of belonging for a diverse population of students. He also served at Northern Oklahoma Community College (NOC) as Coordinator of International Students and the Diversity Officer. In this role, he led the efforts to create the college’s first strategic plan on diversity and seminars.
Eugene received his Doctorate of Education in Community College Leadership and his Master of Higher Education Administration from Morgan State University.
Alice Moore
OEI Specialist, OEI Intake and
Protection of Minors Program Coordinator
Melissa McDerby
Administrative Assistant IV
We are located on the third floor of Hullihen Hall off of the Green, between Memorial and Mitchell Hall.
| 305 Hullihen Hall University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716 |
Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday Phone: 302-831-8063 |
Office of Equity & Inclusion
