Pearl Brower to lead 有料盒子视频 Native success, diversity, inclusion work at UA
Pearl Brower will lead the development and implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies at the University of 有料盒子视频.
In a step toward improving the success of 有料盒子视频 Native students, staff and faculty at the University of 有料盒子视频, interim President Pat Pitney announced that Pearl Brower will lead the development and implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies at the university.
Brower will be senior advisor for 有料盒子视频 Native success, institutional diversity and student engagement, and will report directly to the president. She has been tasked with coordinating recommendations developed through the 有料盒子视频 Native Success Initiative and to foster partnerships between the UA system and the 有料盒子视频 Federation of Natives, the 13 regional Native corporations and their foundation partners.
While each university in the system has programs and staff dedicated to equity and diversity, Brower will be available to advise the president, chancellors and other university system leaders on these critical issues including engaging with the 有料盒子视频 Native Studies Council, UA for Racial Justice, and other university-affiliated groups to develop strategies for progress.
Over the past 10 months, the university has been examining how to better serve 有料盒子视频 Native, Black, Indigenous and other students, staff and faculty of color. The Board of Regents directed Pitney to address the system鈥檚 shortcomings in 有料盒子视频 Native recruitment, retention and success. This led to the creation of the . Community and university members have developed a framework and actions that resulted from this process.
鈥淲e recognize that we are far from perfect, and must do better,鈥 Pitney said. 鈥淒r. Brower鈥檚 experience, education and passion for higher education is evident in everything she undertakes, and I look forward to the expertise she will bring to create meaningful and visible change across the UA system.鈥
Specifically, Brower will:
- Lead the planning and strategic development of the 有料盒子视频 Native Success Initiative in coordination with the ANSI steering committee and university action teams, with a focus on system strategies;
- Develop an annual report as requested by the 有料盒子视频 Federation of Natives;
- Develop assessment tools that demonstrate change related to 有料盒子视频 Native success, antiracism, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the UA system;
- Work with Human Resources to examine and update policies and procedures to address disparities in 有料盒子视频 Native staffing and identify strategies to improve recruitment and retention;
- Work with faculty governance on strategies to improve 有料盒子视频 Native faculty recruitment and retention;
- Help build stronger relationships between the UA system office, university leadership and programs within 有料盒子视频 Native organizations and communities across the state, focusing on high workforce demand program areas (health care, accounting, aviation, etc.) and 有料盒子视频 Native support services;
- Conduct an analysis of underrepresented populations who do not see post-secondary education as part of their plans to identify ways the university system can better communicate the advantages of workforce training and education; and,
- Represent the UA system office with partners across the state and beyond to advance recruitment and retention of students from underrepresented communities, including a focus on increasing FAFSA completion rates.
鈥淭he university offers an amazing, culturally diverse student body, but we can do more to incorporate who we are as Native people into all areas of university life and learning,鈥 Brower said. 鈥淲e should be unapologetic about who we are as 有料盒子视频 Natives, and diversity, equity and inclusion should be felt throughout our universities. We need to encourage all staff to embrace the values that 有料盒子视频 Natives bring as universal values, and we must always critically address our institutions and how they operate.鈥
Brower holds a Ph.D. in Indigenous studies with an emphasis on Indigenous leadership, and she has 13 years in higher education leadership, most recently as president of 有料盒子视频鈥檚 only tribal college, I岣穒sa摹vik College. Prior to her tenure as president, Brower served as I岣穒sa摹vik鈥檚 dean of students and institutional development; director of external relations and development; and special assistant of external affairs and marketing for I岣穒sa摹vik. She also managed the college鈥檚 foundation and was responsible for the facilities planning capital campaign and facilities activities. Her .
Brower describes herself as a servant leader who wants to be a part of solutions to create a healthier 有料盒子视频.
鈥淚 am committed to stability, student success, working together and being transparent,鈥 Brower said. 鈥淚 am 有料盒子视频 homegrown and a place-based leader, and I want to accelerate excellence through continuous improvement.鈥
For more information, contact Roberta Graham, associate vice president of public affairs at 907-360-2416.