Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect that the location of G. Christine Taylor's presentation was moved to Old Dominion Ballroom in Squires Student Center.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 24, 2015 –In support of Virginia Tech’s InclusiveVT effort, a search was launched in the spring for a new senior advisor to the president and vice provost for inclusion and diversity.

As part of the interview and selection process, search committee chair Elizabeth Spiller invites members of the campus community to meet the candidates selected for campus interviews. University and community members are invited to attend each candidate’s open forum presentation on “Vision and Strategies for a Diverse, Inclusive Virginia Tech Community.” 

The open forum presentations will also be broadcast live online for remote participants, and recordings of the sessions will be available online following each. An informal reception will also be held following each open forum presentation. 

Each candidate's curriculum vitae and survey links to provide feedback will be posted on the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost website in advance of each visit date. The search committee encourages all campus and community members to submit feedback via the online surveys.

Sept. 2-3: Menah Pratt-Clarke

Menah Pratt-Clarke is the associate chancellor for strategic affairs and the associate provost for diversity at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She serves as the advisor to the chancellor and provost on issues of diversity, governance, and strategic affairs. 

As a faculty member, Pratt-Clarke is an associate professor in the Department of Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership. She is also affiliated with the Institute for Government and Public Affairs; the Department of African-American Studies; the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies; the Center for African Studies; and the College of Law. 

With over 20 years of administrative, academic, and legal experience, Pratt-Clarke holds master’s degrees in English (University of Iowa) and sociology (Vanderbilt University) as well as J.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Vanderbilt University.

  • Open forum presentation: Sept. 2, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. (Reception to follow)
  • Location: Latham Ballroom A at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center

Sept. 16-17: Daryl Maeda

Daryl Maeda is chair and associate professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, in addition to serving as an affiliated faculty member in the Center for Asian Studies, Program in Women’s and Gender Studies, and the Department of History. 

His scholarship has explored racial identities and politics, Asian American studies, comparative ethnic studies, racial theory, and sports. He has held a range of national and university service roles advancing inclusion and diversity work within academia and, more broadly, society. He holds master’s degrees in Ethnic Studies (San Francisco State University) and American Culture (University of Michigan), in addition to a Ph.D. in American Culture (University of Michigan).

  • Open forum presentation: Sept. 16, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. (Reception to follow)
  • Location: Latham Ballroom A at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center

Sept. 24-25: G. Christine Taylor

G. Christine Taylor most recently served as the vice provost for diversity and chief diversity officer at Purdue University, responsible for oversight of the Diversity Resource Office, the Black Cultural Center, the Latino Cultural Center, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Center, the Native American Education and Cultural Center, the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program, and Science Bound. 

With over 20 years’ experience in higher education, she has also held leadership roles in student affairs, finance and administration, and multicultural programs.  She has a master’s degree in telecommunications management and Ph.D. in mass communication, both from Ohio University.

  • Open forum presentation: Sept. 24, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. (Reception to follow)
  • Where: Old Dominion Ballroom in Squires Student Center

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