Miami University

Stevenson named to new diversity post

Miami has named Michael R. Stevenson to fill a new senior-level position to guide and support the university's diversity efforts.

Stevenson will assume the duties of assistant to the president for institutional diversity and associate provost on July 1.

Public universities must take their commitments to diversity seriously in order to prepare graduates for productive lives, says Stevenson, who is founder and director of Ball State University's Diversity Policy Institute.

He is also chair and a professor in Ball State's department of psychological services, an academic department with 36 faculty members and approximately 1,000 majors and minors.

His career has been spent shaping and implementing higher education's commitment to diversity, said Stevenson.
For example, he helped prepare a paper on diversity that provided the basis for the North Central Association's new accreditation guidelines. He has also helped develop diversity-sensitive policies and practices in the American Psychological Association and other professional organizations.

He is co-author or author of three books, including Everyday Activism: A Handbook for Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual People and their Allies, and has written numerous scholarly articles. Much of his current scholarly work focuses on the development of diversity-related educational and public policy.

“Michael will be an excellent addition to our staff, as someone who has devoted his professional life to promoting diversity on campuses. I look forward to working with him,” said President Jim Garland.

Date Published: 06/09/2005
Volume: 24   Number: 37