Updates from the Office of Equity and Inclusion

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 12:10:19 -0500

Dear Members of the UMBC Community,

I am writing to update you on developments from UMBC’s newly established Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI). The office is responsible for promoting and coordinating the University's core values of inclusive excellence and equity, and will have primary responsibility for managing UMBC’s efforts related to Title IX and civil rights issues. The office will ensure compliance with sexual misconduct and non-discrimination laws, regulations, and policies through prompt, fair investigations, education and training, and outreach and engagement.

The team has been focused on building its infrastructure while continuing to provide services to community members affected by discrimination and sexual misconduct. Our new director, Ariana Arnold, started on January 13, 2020, and has met with staff, faculty, and students across the UMBC community. We have also officially launched the new online reporting form for sexual misconduct and/or discrimination which permits anonymous reporting by students, faculty, and staff.

Nearly all students, faculty, and staff have completed the mandatory online and/or in-person training related to sexual misconduct in the last year. If you are a student and you have not completed the mandatory training, we encourage you to complete the Consent and Respect training as soon as possible so that you may register on time and optimize your course selection options. The Office of Equity and Inclusion will continue to develop and deliver regular mandatory training to all students, faculty, and staff to fulfill UMBC's commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our campus community.

We are also welcoming the following new staff:

Mikhel Kushner will join the office in late March as the Title IX Coordinator. Mikhel has a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Mikhel joins us from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she served as the Executive Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Title IX Coordinator. She is returning to the UMBC family as she was the first Director of the UMBC Women’s Center from 2000-2009.

B. Ever Hanna joined UMBC and OEI on February 25 as the Training and Case Manager. Ever holds a Juris Doctor from Villanova University and a Bachelor of Science from Boston University. They join us after serving as the Policy Director for End Rape on Campus, a national survivor advocacy organization. Prior to this, Ever was a social worker and educator.

We will continue to provide updates throughout the coming months as we hire additional team members, fully launch the new OEI website, and increase the breadth of our training resources. We appreciate the support of the campus as we continue UMBC’s efforts to improve our response to sexual misconduct and discrimination and build a more inclusive community.

Please join me in welcoming Mikhel and Ever to our UMBC community.

Candace Dodson-Reed '96, Chief of Staff, Executive Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Office of the President