The membership of the task force includes representation from various constituencies including the student body, faculty, staff, alumni, and community. The task force is intentionally large in order to have maximum opportunity for diversity in thought. There are over 180 members of the task force.
Task force members have been asked to serve for an initial appointment of two years, although it is understood that some individuals may need to opt out sooner (e.g., if a student is graduating).
Learn more about the task force leaders and their commitment to racial equity in their bios.
Cynthia Bauerle
Interim Vice Provost for Faculty and Curriculum
Arthur Dean
Executive Director for Access and Inclusion
Deborah Johnson
Alumnus, ‘78, Board of Visitors, Vice Rector
Brent Lewis
Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Tia McNair
Vice President in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success, Association of American Colleges and Universities
Rudy Molina
Vice Provost, Student Academic Success & Enrollment Management
Jennifer PeeksMease
Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Gilbert Bland
Alumnus, President & CEO - Urban League of Hampton Roads
Carrie Combs
Director, Alumni Relations; Executive Director, JMU Alumni Association
Mike Davis
Executive Advisor to the President
Chuck Flick
Director, Office of Human Resources
Joanne Gabbin
Executive Director of the Furious Flower Poetry Center, Professor of English
Norman Jones
Student Representative to the Board of Visitors
Karina Kline-Gable
Lecturer, WLC & CAL Faculty Diversity Liaison
Rick Larson
AVP of HR, Training and Performance
Hakseon Lee
Professor of Political Science
Daerenz Lyons Lyons
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Engagement Fellow
Charles May
Ole School Group Alumni Representative, President and CEO of C&M, LLC, Inc.
Towana Moore
Associate Vice President for Business Services
Besi Muhonja
Professor, Director, African, African American, and Diaspora Studies
David Owusu-Ansah
Associate Provost for Diversity & Professor of History
Allahjah Smith
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Engagement Fellow
Working Group Members
There are eleven working groups within the task force. Each working group has co-chairs, a liaison from the Leadership Council and members. Click on the working group to learn more about membership.
Administrative and Professional Faculty Professional Development
Advocacy, Support and Public Safety
Alumni Engagement
Athletics
Awareness/Communication
Classified Staff Professional Development
Economic Engagement and Business Relationships
Instructional Faculty Professional Development
PreK-12 Engagement
