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Position Summary

Reporting to the Dean, the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADDEI) will be a member of the School???s senior leadership team. He/she/they will work closely with the Dean and colleagues to lead and evolve the DEI vision and strategy for the School???s second century. Charged with strategically integrating and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion practices across the School, he/she/they will foster a culture that is adept at supporting and leveraging differences within the community while creating a unifying vision, building capabilities to discuss value and difference, and strengthening commonalities.

Columbia Mailman is committed to enhancing the skills of all, utilizing fair and transparent practices that foster equitable decision making and outcomes, promoting respect and belonging across and among all constituents, able to handle and leverage conflicting views, and to fostering opportunities to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the School???s research, teaching, and community engagement.

Leading ODCI???s staff of two, partnering with the Dean and with colleagues who hold responsibility for promoting DEI across Columbia Mailman (e.g. Vice Dean for Education, Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Human Resources, and all school leadership), this individual will serve as a leader, advisor, partner, advocate, and institutional expert and resource for improving diversity, equity, and inclusion across Columbia Mailman and will serve as a collaborative partner and colleague across the Medical Center and the University.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the Dean and senior leadership team

  • Serving as a member of the Dean???s Leadership Team, with other Deans and senior administrative leaders, the ADDEI will be a knowledgeable, genuine, and willing partner able to advise and consult with Dean Fried and colleagues across the School. This individual is expected to think deeply about, propose, and develop ways to further build philosophical, values-based, and practical engagement towards diversity, equity, and inclusion across Columbia Mailman. As a central resource, the ADDEI will provide a cohesive structure for the programming and new initiatives happening throughout the School, increase coordination and consistency of current initiatives, and leverage and advance existing programs to address gaps or emerging issues.  

• Co-create and operationalize a compelling second-century vision for DEI across the School

  • With clarity and passion, the ADDEI will lead efforts to define what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean at Columbia Mailman. A skilled convener, collaborator, and communicator, the ideal candidate will lead in creating a distinct, long-term vision for the School, strengthening partnerships across Columbia Mailman, the Medical Center, and Columbia University. Establishing the metrics for success, measuring progress, and determining the next-stage investments needed to advance the School???s goals will be key responsibilities.

  • A strong communicator, the successful candidate will bring deep and demonstrated expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion, incorporating research, scholarship, practice, and emerging trends into the School???s plans, and representing Columbia Mailman internally and externally.

• Build on a strong foundation to integrate and deepen DEI initiatives across Columbia Mailman

  • The ADDEI will build on a strong foundation of initiatives focused on DEI already in place at Columbia Mailman and will seek to integrate and enhance these efforts across the School. Additionally, they will assist in the establishment and articulation of new initiatives, procedures, policies, and outcomes, and help secure adequate resources for these initiatives. As the leader of ODCI and the Chair of FORWARD, he/she/they will lead the engagement of the School???s full community to a learning and workplace climate that embraces and sustains diversity and inclusion for all faculty, staff, students, and alumni.  

• Strengthen the sense of belonging and shared community

  • The ADDEI???s office will arrange trainings, workshops, special events, and other fora to deepen understanding and skills for ensuring a welcoming and supportive environment for all members of the Columbia Mailman community - one that strengthens skills in discourse across difference. In partnership with the Dean of Students, Office of Student Affairs, student affinity groups, human resources, faculty steering committee, and other groups, the ADDEI will create initiatives, programs, spaces, and resources that ensure a supportive and more inclusive School culture where all feel a sense of belonging, and a place for their perspectives and growth. In collaboration with the Office of Education, the ADDEI will provide expertise for the effective integration of culturally competent learning objectives and content throughout the curriculum and ensure the implementation of co-curricular initiatives that are culturally responsive and celebrate diversity.

• Drive and support the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students, faculty, and staff

  • In collaboration with relevant school and university entities (e.g. Vice Dean for Education, Associate Dean for Enrollment Management, Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs, Departmental Chairs, Human Resources, and Student Affairs), the ADDEI will develop a strategic plan for the recruitment, retention, and advancement of students, faculty, staff, and senior administrators from populations historically underrepresented or under-valued in public health. The ADDEI???s team will also provide training for faculty and staff search committees to understand and respond to implicit bias in the search process and provide them with the knowledge and skills for successful recruitment and retention.

• Build and develop a talented and motivated team

  • The ADDEI will lead an office historically staffed by two and will have the opportunity to recruit and build the team to advance the crucial work of DEI across Columbia Mailman. The ADDEI must be a skilled manager, facilitator, and trainer who can energize and empower the ODCI office, invest in building a talented team, and foster a culture of teamwork to achieve goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor???s degree required  and advanced degree preferred, plus 10 years of experience working within the DEI field and/or in program development, institutional change,  community engagement or adjacent areas.  Must be a skilled communicator and collaborator across constituencies and stakeholders.
• Extensive knowledge in the field of diversity science, including an understanding of the complex histories, expressions, and needs of different identities and communities, unconscious bias, micro and macro aggressions, social justice, cultural humility, intersectionality, and how corollary systems of discrimination and oppression???racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, xenophobia, ageism, ableism???mutually reinforce one another.
• Proven ability to provide visionary strategic leadership, including setting and inspiring an inclusive organizational vision, bringing diverse groups together for a stronger whole while addressing needs and goals of subgroups.
• Ability to attract a strong team, and to partner with other leaders, guide the implementation of a strategic plan, establish metrics, measure progress, and adapt as necessary as the organization and culture evolve.
• Demonstrated track record of success in partnering across all functions to develop and manage DEI strategies and programs that support engagement and organizational goals.
• Proven ability to cultivate and shape a shared vision; ability to gain credibility with students, faculty, staff, and administrators; and the commitment and ability to work collaboratively with other senior executives.
• Outstanding command of the elements and dynamics of leading change in organizational culture, and the commitment to see the change through to completion; the passion, optimism, patience, and ability necessary to build a successful plan for the design, implementation, assessment, and evolution of key milestones over time.
• Ability to manage and influence change throughout the organization with effective relationship-building skills across all levels.
• Ability to engage stakeholders at all levels, including university and school leaders, leaders of the Medical Center, faculty leaders, students, alumni, Board members, and donors and prospects.
• Record of leading large, complex, results-oriented projects, and handling multiple and evolving priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to be a community collaborator and a convener working with judiciousness and diplomacy; the capacity to build bridges and foster consensus.
• Personal Qualities: Innovative, resourceful, creative, persistent, and generous in spirit. Comfortable leading on uncomfortable topics and engaging in uncomfortable conversations. Open, respectful, transparent, empathetic, and diplomatic. Possesses a sense of urgency as well as the ability to build deep, long-lasting relationships and change.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

Subject to business needs, we may support flexible and hybrid work arrangements. Options will be discussed during the interview process.

The Mailman School of Public Health has engaged Isaacson Miller to assist with this search.  To learn more about this opportunity please visit:

Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Mailman School of Public Health | Isaacson, Miller (imsearch.com)

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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