UO President Michael Schill will recognize members of the President’s Diversity Advisory Community Council and its chairperson John Haroldson at the Nov. 29 fall meeting.
Council members are a diverse group of community members from across the state who have served for three years.
“Serving on the PDACC has afforded me the opportunity to join some of Oregon’s greatest equity leaders in an active effort to enrich the UO’s excellence through diversity, equity and inclusion,” Haroldson said. “It is an honor to work with individuals who are so dedicated to making the world a better place for all people.”
Council members assist the university in pursuing its goal of including diversity, equity and inclusion as an integral part of the university’s priorities to build its academic and research profile, ensure student access and success, and offer a rich, diverse and high-caliber educational experience.
Council members have helped design the IDEAL framework of inclusion, diversity, evaluation, achievement and leadership. In addition, council members have worked on the selection processes for the UO presidential search; provided assistance in fundraising; served on various committees at UO schools and colleges; provided input and consultation on hiring, resource mobilization and communication issues; and served as ambassadors for the university.
The council was created in 2014 by then-UO President Michael Gottfredson. John Haroldson was selected as chairperson.
Haroldson, a UO graduate, was the first Mexican-American to become a district attorney in Oregon. He is the Benton County district attorney and has been recognized by the Oregon Crime Victims Assistance Network and the Oregon Humane Society for excellence in prosecution.
Yvette Alex-Assensoh, vice president for equity and inclusion, welcomes the opportunity to honor all council members and the leadership of Haroldson.
“John Haroldson has worked tirelessly in his leadership of PDACC and has been an amazing force in helping to bring to fruition many PDACC projects,” she said. “It is a privilege to work with him and everyone on the council.”
Allison Davis-White Eyes, the current council vice chair and a UO graduate, will serve as the incoming chairperson. Davis-White Eyes is the director of intercultural student services at Oregon State University.
In addition to honoring council members at the meeting, Schill will provide a university update to the council. Provost and Senior Vice President Jayanth R. Banavar will discuss the UO institutional hiring plan.
The meeting will include reports on the Dreamers Working Group and the Diversity Action Plans. Council members will also share info about their community work, provide input on recruiting new members, and discuss the next phase of the council’s work and involvement in university affairs.
—By tova stabin, University Communications