UMD Appoints Joint President/Senate Inclusion & Respect Task Force Members

University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh and the University Senate Chair Daniel Falvey have appointed 18 members of the university community to the newly formed Joint President/Senate Inclusion & Respect Task Force. The task force is comprised of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and alumni; and will be co-chaired by Warren Kelley, assistant vice president, Division of Student Affairs; Lucy Dalglish, dean, Philip Merrill College of Journalism; and Ja'Nya Banks, Student Government Association diversity and inclusion director.

As part of the university's action plan to combat hate and create a safer campus, President Loh and the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) have charged the task force to consider how to best nurture a climate that is respectful and inclusive of all members of our campus community, stands against hate and reaffirms the values that define us as a university.

“The work of this task force could not be more important. We need to be certain we are doing everything we can to build inclusion and mutual respect on our campus,” said University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh. “The key word in the task force name is ‘joint.’ This is something we must do together as a community.”

“We have brought together a group of talented students, faculty, staff and alumni who are passionate and committed to advancing UMD’s efforts on diversity, inclusion and respect,” said Daniel Falvey, chair, University Senate. “Our partnership with the President’s Office on this initiative provides an opportunity for the various constituencies on our campus to be engaged in the process and ensures that the task force will have the support and authority to recommend measures that will chart a path towards a campus culture intolerant of hate.”

The task force will collect input from and engage the entire campus community on the current campus climate; difficult issues at the intersections of free speech, hate speech, and freedom of association; and experiences of members of the campus community.

The task force has been charged with reviewing and assessing current UMD policies and procedures; responses to past reports of hate and bias incidents; current resources, programs and outreach efforts; cultural competency initiatives and trainings; relevant research; best practices at peer institutions; and higher education professional association guidance.

President Loh and the SEC have also asked the task force to consider how to evaluate the needs of underrepresented groups and assess the efficacy of efforts to address those needs; how best to differentiate between free speech and hate speech in university policies and procedures; and how appropriate communication and public awareness efforts should be used to promote a more inclusive campus climate.

In addition, the task force will develop strategies for fostering a campus environment that is intolerant of hate, bias, and racism; and a statement on the university’s core values and consider how those values are instilled in students, faculty and staff.

The task force’s full charge can be viewed here.

Members of the task force include:

• Warren Kelley (co-chair), Assistant Vice President, Division of Student Affairs
• Lucy Dalglish (co-chair), Dean, Philip Merrill College of Journalism
• Ja'Nya Banks (co-chair), Undergraduate Student, College of Education, SGA Diversity & Inclusion Director
• Ishaan Parikh, Undergraduate Student, College of Computer, Mathematics & Natural Sciences
• Lillia Damalouji, Undergraduate Student, College of Behavioral & Social Sciences, University Senator & Senate Executive Committee Member
• Ana Sanchez-Rivera, Graduate Student, College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
• Melanie Pflucker, Graduate Student, College of Education, Graduate Student Government Diversity Officer
• Oscar Barbarin, Professor and Chair, African American Studies, College of Behavioral & Social Sciences, University Senator & Senate Executive Committee Member
• Rashawn Ray, Associate Professor, Sociology, College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
• Vincent Novara, Curator, Special Collections in Performing Arts, Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library, Past University Senate Chair, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chair, Sexual Harassment Task Force Member
• Zein El-Amin, Lecturer, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, College of Arts & Humanities
• Roz Moore, Assistant Director, Development & External Relations, Division of Student Affairs, University Senator
• Luke Jensen, Director, LGBT Equity Center
• Timea Webster, Executive Administrative Assistant, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University Senator & Senate Executive Committee Member
• Rosanne Hoaas, Public Information Officer, University of Maryland Police Department
• Nicole Pollard, Alumnus, Trustee, University of Maryland College Park Foundation
• Roger Worthington, Chief Diversity Officer and Interim Associate Provost
• Diane Krejsa, Deputy General Counsel, Office of General Counsel

The task force will submit its report and recommendations to the Senate and the President no later than March 30, 2018.