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IDEA Leaders

IDEA Leaders (formerly known as the Diversity Leaders Group, or DLG) is a university-wide collective of senior diversity leaders, representing Áñ—†ÊÓƵ University’s schools/colleges and major administrative units, who Áñ—†ÊÓƵ primary responsibility for inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability (IDEA) in their areas.

The group is convened by OIDI, a central unit within the Provost’s Office. IDEA Leaders form a knowledgeable advisory body for OIDI’s Vice President and Associate Provost/CDO and work with OIDI on navigating challenges and advancing initiatives. Working together as a brain trust, we move forward Áñ—†ÊÓƵ University’s strategic goals and institutional commitments to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability.

Roles and Responsibilities

IDEA Leaders are charged both within their respective units and institutionally to:

• Advise on IDEA policies, rules, and guidelines (PRGs) in their units and support the broader institutional decision-making on IDEA PRGs
• Disseminate information, best practices, and key initiatives happening across the university to their units.
• Serve as a catalyst for IDEA creativity and innovation
• Establish accountability benchmarks for and ensure progress toward strategic IDEA goals

Appointment

IDEA Leaders are often the first point of contact for inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability efforts within their unit. Appointments are made by the unit’s highest-ranking leadership (e.g., Dean, VP), who is a key partner in advancing organizational change and process with particular attention to how IDEA shows up at every level of the structure.

2024-2025 IDEA Leaders

College/School/ Major Unit	Unit	Name	Title
Alumni Relations & Development	Alumni Relations & Development	Lisa Gabrielle Williams	Executive Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion; Alumni Relations & Development
Bienen School of Music	Bienen School of Music	Thomas Crespo	Assistant Dean Student Affairs Music, Administration; Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music
Feinberg School of Medicine	Feinberg School of Medicine	Tameka Brannon	Director Diversity, Inclusion & Outreach, Deans Office; Feinberg School of Medicine
Feinberg School of Medicine	Lurie Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine	Amber Townsend	Manager, Diversity and Inclusion FSM Cancer Center
Information Technology	IT Admin Systems Application Development & Operations	Maureen Veronica Knight-Burrell	Associate Director, Applications Development & Operations, IT Admin Systems Application Development & Operations
Kellogg School of Management	Kellogg School of Management	Christopher Marosi	Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion - Student Experience at Áñ—†ÊÓƵ Kellogg
Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications	Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications	Robert Brown	Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Outreach, Administration; Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications
Áñ—†ÊÓƵ Pritzker School of Law	Áñ—†ÊÓƵ Pritzker School of Law	Samantha Woo	Interim Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
NU-Qatar	NU-Qatar	Maria Lombard	Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs
Office of Human Resources	Office of Human Resources	Janet Walzer	Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff
Office of the Ombudsperson	Office of the Ombudsperson	Sarah Klaper	University Ombudsperson
Office of the Ombudsperson	Office of the Ombudsperson	Kamaria Porter	Associate Ombudsperson
Office of the Provost	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Jasmine Gurneau	Director, Native American and Indigenous Affairs
Office of the Provost	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion/Women's Center	Sarah Brown	Director of Women's Center, Women's Center
Office of the Provost	The Block Museum of Art	Lisa Corrin	Ellen Philips Katz Executive Director, Block Museum
Office of the Provost	Office for Research	Cassidi Hunkler	Instructional Designer Research Training
Office of the Provost	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Anthony McCray	DEI Communications Specialist
Office of the Provost	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Hilary Zimmerman	Director for Diversity Initiatives, Evaluation & Assessment
Office of the Provost	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Jamiece Adams	Facilitator & Program Manager, IDEA Education & Training
Office of the Provost	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Leona Quist	Executive Assistant, Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
Office of the Provost	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Majida Kargbo	Director of IDEA Education & Training
Office of the Provost	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Michelle Manno	Interim Chief Diversity Officer and Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion
Office of the Provost	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Oslo Brewster	IDEA Facilitator
Procurement and Payment Services	Procurement and Payment Services	Peter Braithwaite	Director of Procurement Diversity and Community Engagement
School of Communication	School of Communication	Tamekia Scott	Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Outreach
School of Education and Social Policy	School of Education and Social Policy	Kimberly Scott	Associate Dean of Innovation and Program Development, Executive Director, MSLOC & ELOC, School of Education and Social Policy
School of Professional Studies	Graduate Programs, School of Professional Studies	Soo La Kim	Assistant Dean Graduate Programs, School of Professional Studies
School of Professional Studies	DEIJ Team	Lito P. Lomahan Jr.	Web Admin
School of Professional Studies	Distance Learning, School of Professional Studies	Reba-Anna Lee	Assistant Dean of Distance Learning, School of Professional Studies
Searle Center for Advancing Learning & Teaching	Searle Center for Advancing Learning & Teaching	Veronica Womack	Associate Director, Inclusive Learning Communities,
Searle Center for Advancing Learning & Teaching	Searle Center for Advancing Learning & Teaching	Jennifer Keys	Director, Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching
Student Affairs	AccessibleNU (ANU)	Elisa Flores	Assistant Director, Evanston Campus
Student Affairs	Student Affairs	Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson	Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs & Chief of Staff
Student Affairs & Campus Inclusion and Community	Campus Inclusion and Community (SA)	Tab Wiggins	Assistant Vice President of Campus Inclusion and Community
Student Affairs & Campus Inclusion and Community	Campus Life (SA)	Kelly Bencola	Director of Leadership Development & Community Engagement
The Graduate School	The Graduate School	Sheehan Fisher	Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion
University Athletics	University Athletics	Maria Elena Sanchez	Senior Associate AD/Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Univ Athletics - Administration
University Libraries	University Libraries	Steven Adams	Librarian, Academic Engagement: Áñ—†ÊÓƵ University Library
University Libraries	University Libraries	Rashaad Barnett	New Associate Director of Culture and Inclusion for Libraries
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences	Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences	Matthew Johnson	Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs; Kenneth F Burgess Professor of Anthropology