Dear Truman Community:

I am pleased to share with you the University Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence and to announce the appointment of an Inclusive Excellence Strategic Plan Implementation Committee which will begin work immediately.

In December 2015, President Troy Paino appointed the Committee to Develop a University Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence.  That committee, co-chaired by Jamie Ball (Institutional Compliance) and John Gardner (Residence Life), presented its plan in late May, and a copy of the plan can be found on the President’s Office website at http://www.truman.edu/strategic-plan-for-inclusive-excellence.  After I became the interim president, I began reaching out to individuals for suggestions about who best to serve on an implementation committee, and I am delighted to announce the membership of that committee:

Co-Chair, Jay Bulen, Music
Co-Chair, Michael Bazemore, Athletics
Monica Barron, English and Linguistics
Laura Bates, Center for Student Involvement
Tahj Gayfield, student
Vayujeet Gokhale, Physics
Kevin Minch, Academic Affairs/Communication
Maha Mohamed, Student
Teak Nelson, Nursing
Ex-officio, Jamie Ball, Institutional Compliance
Ex-officio, Carol Bennett, Multicultural Affairs
Ex-officio, Heather Cianciola, McNair Program/English and Linguistics

The committee (comprised of faculty, staff, students and members of the original committee) has been given the charge to prioritize and develop implementation strategies for the recommendations in the strategic plan.  Our goal for the inclusive excellence initiative is to build a more accessible, equitable and inclusive climate for all members of the campus community and to develop a culture where diversity is a strength, not a weakness, in our collective pursuit for excellence.

On behalf of the Truman community, I thank the original development committee for their dedicated and engaged work, and I look forward to receiving the recommendations of the implementation committee.  It is imperative that Truman exhibits inclusive excellence across the entire campus and their work will ensure that we do so.

Best regards,

Sue