Inclusive Excellence Council

A climate of inclusive excellence is crucial for the recruitment, retention, success, and satisfaction of the very best faculty, staff, and students. A permanent dean’s level committee, the Inclusive Excellence Council (IEC), was established in Fall 2019 to address these issues within the context of public health education. The Council is necessary to ensure our School will be well-equipped to address these needs in a strategic manner. It is comprised of faculty, staff, and students from across the School. Faculty and staff are nominated by their respective departments and serve 3-year terms. Students are selected through an online application process and serve 1-2-year terms.

The IEC is responsible for:

• Monitoring and evaluating the progress of the strategic priorities listed in the inclusive excellence action plan.
• Advising on and coordinating activities that support and strengthen a climate of inclusive excellence within our School.
• Advising faculty, staff and students regarding issues of diversity and climate within the School.
• Serving as chair(s) of action plan subcommittees that lead school-wide efforts to meet our stated goals.
• Providing updates on Council activities to their units and serving as a liaison regarding inclusive excellence.
• Periodically revising the inclusive excellence action plan as needed.

IEC Co-Chairs

Elizabeth French, MA Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives Kim Ramsey-White, PhD Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence Jeffrey Simms, MSPH Assistant Professor and Director of Student Life and Alumni Relations, Department of Health Policy and Management

Advocacy

Purpose: Advocate on behalf of students for living wages, fairness in hiring practices, and greater transparency regarding employment opportunities.

Co-Leads

Jonathan Earnest, MA, CHC, CPT Director of Admissions O.J. McGhee, MA Associate Director, Instructional Media Services Manager and End-user Support

Members

Andrea Bankoski, MPH IT Manager, Department of Epidemiology Tiffany Farina, EdD, CRA, CFRA Director of Finance and Administration, North Carolina Institute for Public Health and the Public Health Leadership Program Jon M. Hussey, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Maternal and Child Health Sarah Kitchens, MaEd Awards and Funding Coordinator Pamela Lee, MA Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, Dean's Office and Academic Affairs Jeffrey Simms, MSPH Interim Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence; Assistant Professor and Director of Student Life and Alumni Relations, Department of Health Policy and Management

Communications

Purpose: Develop and improve approaches to communicating about inclusion, equity and anti-racism efforts at Gillings

Co-Leads

Branson Moore, MA Associate Director for Strategic Marketing Naya Villarreal, MPH Gillings Global Health Associate Director

Members

Elizabeth French, MA Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives O.J. McGhee, MA Associate Director, Instructional Media Services Manager and End-user Support Kimberly Parker Truesdale, PhD, MSPH Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition

Curriculum

Purpose: Evaluate and improve anti-racist and equity components in student learning during orientation and across the curriculum

Co-Leads

Elizabeth French, MA Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives Dana Rice, DrPH Assistant Dean, Master’s Degree Programs; Assistant Professor, Public Health Leadership Program

Members

Jonathan Earnest, MA, CHC, CPT Director of Admissions Pamela Lee, MA Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, Dean's Office and Academic Affairs Laura Linnan, ScD Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs

Representation

Purpose: Evaluate and improve efforts surrounding the recruitment and retention of Gillings faculty, staff and students from diverse backgrounds

Co-Leads

Gretchen Senez, MS Assistant Dean, Human Resources

Members

Manal Khan Grants Manager, WI Deytia Lima-Rojas, PhD Assistant Dean for Strategic Analysis and Business Intelligence (SABI) Kurt M. Ribisl, PhD Jo Anne Earp Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Health Behavior Jeffrey Simms, MSPH Interim Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence; Assistant Professor and Director of Student Life and Alumni Relations, Department of Health Policy and Management

Research

Purpose: Dismantle racism and promote equity throughout the research enterprise

Co-Leads

Alexia Kelley, PhD Assistant Dean for Research William Vizuete, PhD Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering

Members

Monika Soria Caruso, CRA Contracts and Grants Manager and Pre-Award Administration, Department of Biostatistics Annie Green Howard, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics Kurt M. Ribisl, PhD Jo Anne Earp Distinguished Professor and Department Chair, Department of Health Behavior

Training

Purpose: Develop, implement and evaluate trainings, including strong anti-racist and equity-driven components, for faculty, staff, TAs and other members of the Gillings community

Co-Leads

Members

Annette Raines Human Resources Consultant Dana Rice, DrPH Assistant Professor, Public Health Leadership Program Sarah Brill Thach, MPH Assistant Professor, Public Health Leadership Program