Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Institutional Diversity Division will be reorganized, with the goal of streamlining the university’s administration and more effectively serving all underrepresented students.
President Richard Davenport announced the reorganization today. He said the position of vice president for institutional diversity will be eliminated, and the Institutional Diversity Office will be led by a dean of diversity who will report to the university’s provost and vice president for academic and student affairs.
“This is another step in the administrative restructuring process that started in March of 2009,” Davenport said. “The new structure does not change our strong commitment to diversity across the institution. Institutional diversity will continue its focus in serving students effectively, with diversity services becoming integral with the Division of Academic & Student Affairs, and with the academic programs of our seven colleges.”
“Last year, we reorganized student affairs on the same model, integrating those functions into the Division of Academic Affairs,” Davenport said. “That has proven successful. Best practices nationwide indicate that this will be successful, too – that students are best served when diversity programs are integrated into academic and student affairs.”
The new structure will provide underrepresented students with more effective academic support at the college level, and will bring greater diversity to the university, Davenport added.
“The change will reinforce our position as one of the higher education institutions of choice for underrepresented students in Minnesota. This new change, however, will involve more integration of diversity in academic and student affairs. This is in keeping with our goal of promoting access and opportunity.”
Due to the central importance of diversity, the new dean of institutional diversity will have a seat on the President’s Cabinet. The dean also will serve as a member of the Academic Affairs Council, allowing him or her to initiate development of educational opportunities for all students.
Davenport said the university will begin an internal search for an interim dean next week, and soon will initiate a national search for a permanent dean of diversity. While the internal search is being conducted, Dr. Linda Duckett, co-chair of the President’s Commission on Diversity, will serve as acting dean of diversity until an interim dean is appointed in two to three weeks.
Current Vice President for Institutional Diversity Dr. Michael Fagin will remain with the university. As a tenured, full professor, he has the option of returning to the classroom.
“In recognition of Dr. Fagin’s years of service and accomplishments, I am pleased to honor his service with the designation as the first University Scholar, effective immediately,” Davenport said.
“Dr. Fagin is a higher education diversity pioneer. Throughout his career he has mentored, encouraged and empowered underrepresented students, preparing them for leadership positions in business, government and society.
“Under Dr. Fagin’s leadership, Minnesota State Mankato has been successful in attracting a diverse student population. He has worked tirelessly to help make the campus and the Mankato community a more welcoming place for people of diverse cultures. I deeply appreciate Dr. Fagin’s long and dedicated service to the university and to the cause of diversity, and I congratulate him on his numerous accomplishments in the area of diversity.”
Fagin has championed diversity at Minnesota State Mankato since he became the first director of the Minorities Groups Studies Center in 1970. In 1991, he was named associate vice president for cultural diversity, and in 2004 was appointed to lead institutional diversity programs.
He is the driving force behind the nationally renowned Pan African Conference, and a founder of Mankato’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. In 2006, he was lauded by the Minnesota Association of Black Psychologists as one of the association’s “Honoring Our Elders” leaders, and he has helped the institution earn a number of awards.
A 2006 proclamation by Gov. Tim Pawlenty cited his “significant contributions . . . to the entire Minnesota community.” In 2007 he received the Claire E. Faust Public Service Award for outstanding service to the university, community, state and nation.
He has been chair of the Mankato Human Rights Committee, was a part-time police officer with the Department of Public Safety, and for many years was a department volunteer. He has served as a diversity consultant for many organizations, including the Police Officer Standards and Training Board of Minnesota.
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