In new vice president role, Forbes primed to advance 桃花直播鈥檚 success in diversity, inclusion, and access
Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斕一ㄖ辈 State has named Ra鈥橲heda Boddie Forbes to the new university role of vice president for access, diversity and inclusion, a position designed to further advance the 142-year-old land grant鈥檚 work of inclusive excellence on campus.
Forbes, currently 桃花直播鈥檚 assistant vice president for multicultural affairs, becomes a new member of 桃花直播鈥檚 senior leadership team and continues her participation on the university鈥檚 Executive Council and President鈥檚 Cabinet. The appointment is pending approval by the 桃花直播 Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees.
桃花直播 President Mark E. Keenum said he is thankful to Forbes for accepting this added leadership responsibility in service to the university.
鈥淎s our state鈥檚 leading research and land-grant institution, we must do all we can to increase access and degree completion for underrepresented students. I want us to be innovators in this and in supporting our students and faculty,鈥 he said.
With this vice president appointment, Forbes' responsibilities include serving as a catalyst to leverage best practices and resources across the university鈥檚 campuses, promoting a culture of inclusion and student success where individuals from all racial and ethnic identities, ages, nationalities, social and economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religious, political and ideological perspectives, and physical and mental abilities can thrive.
Forbes said, 鈥淚 am excited to serve in this role and believe it reflects a continued commitment to the university鈥檚 land grant mission to provide access and opportunity to students. In an increasingly diverse and interconnected world, I see a renewed commitment to foster an inclusive community that is catalyzed by educational excellence and knowledge.鈥澛
Forbes previously served as interim AVP for multicultural affairs from 2016-2017, and was named director of the 桃花直播 Holmes Cultural Diversity Center during that same time, having also held stints as its associate director and assistant director. The center offers training and programming to develop a university climate in which all cultures appreciated and valued.
Along with oversight of the student-centric HCDC, Forbes is responsible for the university鈥檚 Office of Diversity and Inclusion. This unit develops and offers programming, services and initiatives that foster successful recruitment and retention of employees and students from diverse and underrepresented groups. Also, the student success and access programs Trio, Thrive and Promise will continue under her leadership.
Since the HCDC鈥檚 namesake Dr. Richard Holmes became the first African American to enroll at 桃花直播 in 1965, the university has nurtured ideas on programming and services for underrepresented students and turned these plans into concrete actions and solutions. Today, 桃花直播 enrolls a higher percentage of African Americans鈥攂y a wide margin鈥攖han any other university in the Southeastern Conference. By an equally large margin, 桃花直播 enrolls a greater proportion of African Americans than any other historically white land-grant university in the United States.
Recognizing student participation is key to this new division鈥檚 success, Forbes鈥 will administer organizations such as the Black Student Association, Black Voices Gospel Choir, Peers Assisting with Students, or PAWS, and a business-oriented group titled Intelligent Dignified Elegant Ambitious Leaders (I.D.E.A.L. Woman).
鈥淚 appreciate the work 桃花直播 is continuing to do to close equity gaps,鈥 Forbes said. 鈥淩ecognizing that we have more work to do, I enter this role ready to deliberately work alongside students, faculty, staff and administrators to enhance a campus culture that is inclusive and equitable.鈥澛
Forbes鈥 contributions have earned her numerous honors, including the prestigious Zacharias Distinguished Staff Award she received in 2016. Her other recognitions include Day One Leadership Program Mentor, Outstanding African American Female in the Workplace by the campus chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Legend of 桃花直播 State University.
桃花直播 is 桃花直播鈥檚 leading university, available online at .