New Chief Diversity Officer - Aug. 17, 2023

To the Eastern Michigan University community,

I am pleased to announce the hiring of Dwight Hamilton as the University's Chief Diversity Officer (CDO). Dwight will begin work on Monday, September 18, but will be on campus to meet employees and students during the first week of the fall semester as part of his transition.

Dwight comes to EMU after a diverse career in higher education DEI work and the legal profession. A Michigan native, Dwight earned an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from Wayne State University. After practicing law in western Michigan, he worked in a variety of DEI and Title IX roles at Grand Valley State University, Smith College, and Northwestern University. Most recently, Dwight leads DEI efforts for a corporate firm that supports several private universities.

As EMU's CDO, Dwight will oversee the Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention & Response (which includes the Title IX Coordinator), Office of DEI Programs, the MAGIC program, and the Brotherhood and Sisterhood Scholars program.

Dwight succeeds Dr. Doris Fields, who served as EMU's inaugural CDO on an interim basis. Doris was instrumental in setting up the CDO office, co-led the annual campus MLK Celebration, and created a solid foundation for this most important office. Doris has returned to the Office of the Provost to serve as Interim Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Programs and Initiatives, but she will work closely with Dwight as he transitions into his new role as EMU's CDO.

I wish to offer my special thanks to the search committee that coordinated this process: Ryan Gildersleeve, Dean of the College of Education, who chaired the search committee; Cedrick Charles, a student; Ellen Gold, Dean of Students and Senior Assoc. Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs; Erin Kido, Senior Associate Athletics Director; Mary-Elizabeth Murphy, Associate Professor of History and Chair of the Women's Commission; Christine Neufeld, Professor of English and designee of the Faculty Senate; and Melissa Thrasher, Executive Director of Media Relations. The search committee received support from Pauline Banks, Administrative Secretary in the College of Education, and Brett Last, Chief Human Resources Officer and Associate Vice President.

Please join me in welcoming Dwight to EMU in the coming weeks.

James Smith, Ph.D.