Dear USF Community,
I would like to share some important updates with you about my leadership team and
our search for a new Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Dr. Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman, Senior Advisor to the President and Provost for Diversity
and Inclusion and Interim Vice President for Institutional Equity, has assumed a new
role as Interim Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement
in the Provost鈥檚 Office effective August 7, 2022.
My sincere thanks to Dr. Hordge-Freeman for her contributions and her continued leadership
in creating a more unified and equitable university. As senior advisor, she provided
leadership to the university community during a period of national conversations about
systemic racism and social justice. As interim vice president, Dr. Hordge-Freeman鈥檚
collaborative leadership engaged external and internal stakeholders to envision the
re-branded Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and clarify a strategic direction
for inclusive excellence. She partnered to develop new recruitment initiatives for
students and faculty, launch new councils and workshops, create the innovative Diversity,
Anti-Racism and Equity dashboards, and strengthen vital community relationships. In
her new role as Interim Associate Vice Provost, Dr. Hordge-Freeman will collaborate
with the Provost鈥檚 leadership team to develop programs and initiatives that support
and strengthen faculty excellence in alignment with USF鈥檚 commitment to diversity,
equity and inclusion.
With Dr. Hordge-Freeman moving into this new opportunity, I am pleased to announce
that Dr. Tricia Penniecook, associate professor of public health practice and vice
dean for education and faculty affairs in the College of Public Health, has agreed
to join the President鈥檚 Cabinet as Interim Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Dr. Hordge-Freeman
will retain her appointment as senior advisor for a temporary period to assist with
Dr. Penniecook鈥檚 transition.
Dr. Penniecook has more than 24 years of experience as a physician, educator and public
health administrator. As vice dean, she has led the College of Public Health through
an academic master planning process, integrating a comprehensive strategy to address
diversity, equity, inclusion and systemic racism in all policies and procedures of
the college. Before joining USF in 2017, Dr. Penniecook served as the first Afro-Latina
Dean of the School of Public Health at Loma Linda University and as Vice President
of Academic Administration at Oakwood University, an HBCU (historically Black college
or university) in Alabama.
We expect to have a permanent Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion identified
later this year. I am pleased to report that the search advisory committee that we announced last month has hosted its initial kick-off meeting and will soon begin listening sessions to
engage members of the USF community in the search process. We鈥檒l keep you updated
as soon as more information is available.
At USF, we have refocused our steadfast support of all members of the university鈥檚
community by reorganizing the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and by establishing
an institutional strategic plan that identifies diversity, equity and inclusion as
an institutional commitment. I look forward to welcoming a talented and driven leader
into the vice president role to continue advancing USF鈥檚 core values and building
on our commitment to providing an inclusive, vibrant community that strives to remove
barriers and support the success of our diverse community members.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Penniecook on her new appointment and in thanking
Dr. Hordge-Freeman for her ongoing service to USF.
厂颈苍肠别谤别濒测,鈥�
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Rhea F. Law鈥�
President