President announces diversity officer
Sandra Mitchell was appointed as senior diversity officer and will assume office in January.
The nationwide search for CSB+SJU’s first ever senior diversity officer (SDO) has ended.
On Thursday, Nov. 10, CSB+SJU President Brian Bruess announced Sandra Mitchell as the inaugural senior diversity officer. Mitchell is set to assume office on Jan. 2, 2023. Mitchell first learned about the opportunity on Aug. 23 in an email from the search firm Academic Search. After talking to a close colleague, Mitchell decided to learn more about the job in early September, leading her to apply later that month.
“I’m really excited about learning more about what that strategic plan can be and what that can look like and how it connects with the strong integration that’s happening at the university right now,” Mitchell said.
Prior to her appointment to CSB+SJU, Mitchell has worked at St. Catherine University in St. Paul as director of equity and inclusion since 2019. Her last day at St. Kate’s will be Dec. 16. Mitchell obtained her education specialist degree in educational leadership and innovation from the University of Colorado. She earned her master’s degree in higher education and bachelor’s degree in psychology from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. As the SDO, Mitchell will work closely with Bruess and the leadership team to ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are implemented in programs and decisions.
“We continue to examine our own practices and systems; embrace a full commitment to developing an inclusive environment incorporated in all decision-making processes; and are dedicated to cultivating an equitable, inclusive and just community founded on the belief that all persons inherently deserve respect and dignity,” Bruess said via email to the CSB+SJU community on Thursday, Nov. 10.
According to Bruess’s email, key focuses for this position include, “integrating DEI content throughout the student experience (curricular and co-curricular offerings) for improved student engagement, belonging and success; building bold and contemporary strategies to recruit, retain and develop a more diverse community of faculty, staff and students; fostering a diverse, inclusive and caring campus climate, as well as aligning and integrating a wide range of existing and new initiatives to build on a culture of equity, inclusion and belonging; and collaborating with local community leaders and organizations to promote equity and inclusion in the wider community.”
Associate Provost for Student Success and Search Chair Mary Geller, Chief Human Resources Officer Erin Muckerheide, Associate Provost and Dean of the Faculty Pam Bacon and Director of Center for Global Education Kevin Clancy led the three-month interviewing and hiring process.
“I hope she can come in and build upon the work that we have already been doing and take us to the next level. She truly is the right leader for this,” Geller said.
Mitchell said that each individual may have different perspectives on what DEI means and what steps to take or not to take, which may cause some challenges.
“I’m passionate about this work. This has been my professional calling…I also know that it’s not easy work,” Mitchell said.
To Mitchell, DEI means reevaluating strategic plans and initiatives to stay up to date with students’ needs.
“It means that universities can’t keep doing things the way that they’ve been doing them because our students don’t need that anymore. They need other things. They have different needs,” Mitchell said.
CSB first-year Juana Lopez described the importance of bringing staff, faculty and students of different cultures to CSB+SJU to bring the community closer.
“I’m Hispanic, and seeing the Day of the Dead, which is really important for my culture, I liked it because I feel like I took a piece of home and brought it here because it’s something that I do at home,” Lopez said.
SJU sophomore Dee Khalil, President of the Black Student Union at CSB+SJU, emphasized the importance of Mitchell’s presence and role at CSB+SJU.
“I always say that you can’t have diversity and not have equity and inclusion. You have to make sure that you have those who are in the margins of society [and] those who are oppressed at the table,” Khalil said.
Khalil, along with various student leaders across campus, had the opportunity to meet with the final three candidates, including Mitchell.
“You can really feel the drive and the passion for what she believed in as a leader [at St. Kate’s],” Khalil said. “I think that she is going to make an impact on the administrative level. I think she will also make an impact here on the student body in whatever way that she can.”
Like Khalil, Mitchell pointed to the importance of everyone’s participation when it comes to DEI.
“We’re all in this together. It’s going to be difficult in all parts and at times. This is everyone’s work,” Mitchell said.
