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Provost finalist to take other position
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One of the finalists for the position of University of Wisconsin vice provost of diversity and climate has accepted a position at another university, narrowing the field of candidates from three to two.
Kenneth Durgans, the current vice provost for institute diversity for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York has been named the assistant chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion for Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis, according to the university’s website.
Eden Inoway-Ronnie, special assistant to UW Provost Pat Farrell, said the provost’s office was not aware Durgans had accepted another position.
The candidate pool is now down to Seema Kapani, UW’s diversity education coordinator, and Damon Williams, assistant vice provost for multicultural affairs at the University of Connecticut at Storrs.
Michael Thornton, the chair of the Search and Screen Committee that selected the three candidates, said two weeks ago UW was involved in negotiations with a candidate. Inoway-Ronnie said Friday she could not confirm or deny that statement.
She added she could only release an official statement on behalf of Provost Farrell about the current state of the search, saying they “expect to have an announcement soon.”
“We will let you know as soon as we are ready,” Inoway-Ronnie said. “Beyond that, I don’t have additional details.”
According to Inoway-Ronnie, the provost’s office is taking its time with the search process because they want to make sure they make the correct decision for such a “major campus administrative appointment.”
She added UW is looking to change the job into a full-time position to reflect the university’s dedication to promoting diversity on campus.
Inoway-Ronnie said the job has typically been reserved for tenured faculty who would give up some of their teaching responsibilities and devote part of their time to the responsibilities of the vice provost position.
This is how the position was defined until the last vice provost, Bernice Durand, retired at the end of the summer of 2007, she added.
Despite Durand retiring after the summer, the position has not been vacant the entire year, Inoway-Ronnie said. According to her, Durand came back to fill the position for the fall semester while the provost’s office conducted its search
Kapani declined to comment, while Durgans, Williams and Purdue representatives did not return calls seeking comment as of press time Tuesday.
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“Despite Durand retiring after the summer, the position has not been vacant the entire year, Inoway-Ronnie said. According to her, Durand came back to fill the position for the fall semester while the provost’s office conducted its search”
What a laugh! Did anyone realize she was still in the position last Fall until the Badger Herald reported it? Can you name one thing she did in that position? No? Then how can you call it a “major campus administrative appointment.”??????
Paul Barrows’ PEOPLE Program and Richard Davis’s Institute for the Healing of Racism have done more for this campus than any other program. One was booted off campus and the other is totally ignored.
Whatever. Let Bernice serve another year…
Why do the Chancellor and Provost find this extended period of time not having a Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate to be OKAY? Even if this is because of negoiations with one of the finalists, it is a deep embarassment for the university for it to go on for this long AND begs the question — “If this position can remain vacant for so long … do the Chancellor and Provost see the work as truly relevant and vital? Or do they see this as only political ‘window dressing?’”