Gregory J. Vincent will be the University’s new vice provost for institutional equity and diversity, University officials announced Monday. The appointment came after an extended search for a suitable candidate to fill the newly created position.
Formerly a vice provost at Louisiana State University, Vincent is expected to begin work Friday as the University’s leader for issues concerning students and faculty of color. He will also focus on the University’s multicultural goals concerning campus equality.
The appointment marks the the first time the University has created a new vice provost position in three years, Senior Vice President and Provost John Moseley said.
“The purpose of the position really is to help us in the administration better coordinate and get value from the various programs that we’ve got supporting diversity,” Moseley said.
Vincent will work with various campus groups — including the Council of Deans, Office of Student Affairs and Office of Multicultural Affairs — to provide guidance for diversity and equity matters.
“He comes to us with really very good experience in this area,” Moseley said.
Vincent said he is looking forward to living in the Northwest and having the opportunity to show that Oregon is a valuable place for faculty and students of color to work and learn.
“I am just delighted to have been named vice provost,” Vincent said.
He said his first order of business will be to become acquainted with students and faculty on campus.
“The first thing is just to get to know people and get to know who the student and faculty leaders are,” Vincent said.
He said his experience at a similar position at LSU has prepared him to work at the University.
“I have an idea of what some of the opportunities and challenges are at the University of Oregon,” he said.
Vincent served as LSU’s vice provost and directed the Equity and Diversity Resource Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is also a law professor and civil-rights advocate.
Along with coordinating diversity and equity programs, Vincent will teach one University course per year.
Moseley said everyone in the administration has been working with diversity issues, but now more focus can be given to the area.
“The hope is — the expectation is that we’ll be able to do better,” he said.
ASUO co-Multicultural Advocate Mark Padoongpatt said he is glad the search is over for the newly created position, but Vincent may face challenges because he is coming in the middle of the school year.
“It’s going to take some time to get adjusted,” he said.
Padoongpatt said he hopes the new vice provost will provide a vital link between administrators and students of color.
“We feel like we’re left out of a lot of decision making,” he said.
Padoongpatt said he also hopes Vincent will be able to live up to the expectations the administration has placed on him as a solution for issues of diversity.
“We’re interested to see how this all plays out,” he said.