College Hires First Diversity, Inclusion Officer

SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley has announced the appointment of Dr. Rodmon King as the college’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, effective July 2, 2018.

In this position, King will be responsible for implementing the college’s strategic diversity and inclusion goals, while leading the cultivation, enhancement and promotion of an environment of equity and inclusion for all at SUNY Oswego. The chief diversity and inclusion officer will report directly to President Stanley, is a member of the President’s Council and will provide counsel on all matters pertaining to diversity and inclusive excellence on campus.

“Dr. King has an outstanding record of executive leadership and vision in the administration of a comprehensive range of services, policies and procedures related to diversity and inclusive excellence,” said President Stanley. “His extensive experience working as an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, and collaboration with stakeholders across the academy and in the wider community have prepared him to make immediate contributions as the chief diversity and inclusion officer at SUNY Oswego.”

King is the associate vice president for Academic Affairs and Diversity Initiatives at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, where he oversees the development and assessment of institutional and academic policies, programs and protocols, especially those pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion. He is responsible for developing and evaluating diversity and inclusion initiatives, programming and training for faculty, students, and staff; investigating bias-related incidents; developing and maintaining a reporting system for bias-related incidents; developing gender identity accommodations; and institutional strategic planning.

“I am honored by my selection as the new chief diversity and inclusion officer for SUNY Oswego,” said King. “So much has already been accomplished by the college in its quest to become a model for inclusive excellence. I look forward to joining this ongoing effort and bringing my vision for moving the scope of diversity, equity, and inclusion forward at SUNY Oswego – a vision that centers on the concept and practice of full participation.”

King added, “Diversity is integral to higher education’s mission to enable both access and success for all individuals. I look forward to promoting full participation in collaboration with students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders, and coordinating initiatives to promote diversity, equity and inclusion at Oswego.”

Prior to his time at Centre College, King was a member of the faculty at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, where he spent the better part of a decade teaching as a full-time instructor and assistant professor in the department of philosophy. He previously served as an adjunct instructor at Roberts Wesleyan College and the University of Rochester.

King has served on numerous national and regional faculty recruitment and retention boards; developed diversity initiatives and programming in Academic Affairs, Admissions and Student Affairs; facilitated college and community dialogues on leadership, race and social justice; and assumed countless committee service responsibilities at Centre College, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He helped Centre College secure a Mellon Diversity and Inclusion Grant in 2015, and received the 2015 NAACP (Geneva, N.Y. chapter) Community Service Award; the Hobart and William Smith Annual Faculty Teaching Award in 2014; and the Higher Education Opportunities Program (HEOP) Faculty Award in 2012.

King earned doctorate and master’s degrees in philosophy from the University of Rochester and a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion and philosophy from Roberts Wesleyan College.