To: The Wellesley Community
From: President Paula A. Johnson
Re: CERE Update
Date: September 13, 2018
This fall, the President’s Commission on Ethnicity, Race, and Equity (CERE) will begin its fourth year. Smitha Radhakrishnan, Luella LaMer Associate Professor of Women’s Studies and associate professor of sociology, will serve as its new chair.
I want to extend my deep gratitude to Michael Jeffries, associate professor of American studies and CERE’s founding chair, for leading the commission so effectively during its first critical years. Below is a statement from Professor Jeffries in which he reflects on the work of the commission over the last three years.
I also want to thank the outgoing members of the commission, who have made many significant contributions, and welcome new members, who have committed to serve this academic year.
CERE continues to play an important role in moving our community towards greater inclusion and equity. I am thrilled that Professor Radhakrishnan has agreed to chair CERE going forward, and I look forward to working with her and the commission as we continue our pursuit of equity for all members of our diverse community.
Statement from Michael Jeffries, outgoing chair of CERE:
As CERE moves into the 2018–2019 academic year with new leadership, I would like to take this opportunity clarify how the commission has evolved since its founding. The President’s Commission on Ethnicity, Race, and Equity was formed and began meeting in the spring semester of 2015. President Kim Bottomly charged the commission with the following:
*Establish a vision of what a truly equitable community might look like.
*Determine what would be necessary for the Wellesley community to become that vision.
*Establish a plan for shared understanding of the impact of race, ethnicity, and equity at Wellesley.
During CERE’s first two years, it delivered specific recommendations to the president. Those recommendations, made public to the Wellesley community in the Year-End Report dated April 2016, were: a) launch a hiring initiative to increase the number of faculty of color at Wellesley; b) offer unconscious-bias training for all faculty and senior staff; and c) make enhancements to Wellesley Plus, a program for incoming Wellesley students who might benefit from additional support in their transition to college. CERE also advocated for enhancements to the multicultural spaces on campus.
As President Johnson assumed her role, CERE was re-evaluated and its work evolved. Though the College made progress on some of the above recommendations, it became clear that CERE did not have the data, capacity, or authority to implement a comprehensive new vision for diversity, inclusion, and equity at Wellesley. The commission is far better positioned to work in partnership with the president, the dean of students, the Office of Human Resources, and the Provost’s Office to share information and coordinate efforts to address racial and ethnic inequity.
During the 2017–2018 academic year, CERE turned its attention to engagement with the Diversity Coalition and other committees of Academic Council; the outcomes of the two town halls dedicated to inclusive excellence at Wellesley; and the restructuring of Green House staff, which became a point of interest for multiple constituencies at the College. As in previous years, there were additional issues brought to CERE’s attention that we cannot transparently report on to Academic Council, Administrative Council, or College Government. We brought these matters to the attention of the appropriate members of the administration, offering ideas and recommendations where appropriate. President Johnson is accountable to the parties involved and attentive to the ongoing work related to these issues.
This fall, Smitha Radhakrishnan (Sociology) will assume the role of CERE chair. CERE will continue much of its work from 2017–2018, including the pursuit of inclusive excellence at Wellesley; as a member of the Inclusive Excellence Working Group, Professor Radhakrishnan is especially well-positioned to coordinate these efforts. CERE will also focus on integrating at least three new administrators scheduled to arrive at the College during the 2018–2019 academic year: the dean of inclusion and engagement; the dean of academic integration; and the associate provost of diversity and inclusion. CERE welcomes feedback from across the Wellesley community, and the commission is grateful for the support and contributions of the faculty.
Finally, I want to thank all faculty, staff, and students who contributed to CERE’s work over the past three and a half years. It was an honor and a pleasure to serve with you all.
Best,
Michael Jeffries
CERE members 2018–2019
Smitha Radhakrishnan, Chair (Sociology)
Diego Arciniegas (Theater)
Tracey Cameron (Student Life)
Nikki Greene (Art History)
Brenna Greer (History)
Soo Hong (Education)
Erich Matthes (Philosophy)
Sandra Murga-Zuniga (Human Resources)
Sheilah Shaw Horton (Dean of Students)
Joy St. John (Dean of Admission)
Pamela Taylor (Office of Institutional Research)
Tyler Vargas (Class of 2021)
Multicultural Affairs Coordinator (College Government, TBD)
