Kent State University has announced five faculty members will serve as 2014-2016 provost faculty associates for the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, beginning in September.

Provost faculty associates work on projects to support diversity and inclusion, including recruitment and retention of underrepresented faculty, staff and students, and support the mission of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to build a more inclusive environment at Kent State.

The provost faculty associates are Diane Kerr, Ph.D., School of Health Sciences; Walter Gershon, Ph.D., School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies; Oscar Rocha, Ph.D., Department of Biological Sciences; Federico Subervi, Ph.D., School of Journalism and Mass Communication; and Denise Harrison, departments of English and Pan-African Studies, who is returning for another term.

Alfreda Brown, Ed.D., vice president of Kent State’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, applauded the provost faculty associates for their commitment to diversity and service to Kent State.

“We are very pleased with the selection of five faculty associates who graciously offered time and service to enhance diversity efforts over the next two years,” Brown says. “They were carefully chosen based on their expertise and passion to make a difference in the progression of diversity and inclusion.”

Kerr will serve with Kent State’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Student Center and the Women’s Center and will focus on women and sexual minorities. Gershon will serve with the Student Multicultural Center with a focus on qualitative study for African-American, Latino American and Native American (AALANA) students. Rocha also will serve with the Student Multicultural Center and help to promote the recruitment and retention of AALANA and international students. Subervi will serve with the Office of the Vice President on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on issues related to AALANA faculty and staff. Harrison, who was a 2012-2013 provost faculty associate, will continue to serve the Women’s Center, helping to develop and implement interdisciplinary courses and research on women’s history.

For more information about Kent State’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, visit www.kent.edu/diversity.