Oakton diversity officer wins national fellowship

The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education announced that Oakton Community College Chief Diversity Officer and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Anthony has been selected as one of two 2015-16 NADOHE fellows from a nationwide pool of nominees.

The purpose of the one academic year Chief Diversity Officer Fellows Program is to provide new and early in their career CDOs with mentoring from a senior level CDO with at least 10 years of experience, and a secondary mentor with complementary expertise, for guided professional development opportunities and experiences. Anthony joined Oakton in January 2013.

"I am honored and extremely proud to be named a CDO Fellow," Anthony said. "This experience will give me the tools needed to assess and improve the climate of our campus for students and employees and accelerate our inclusion and student success efforts. This fellowship will also highlight the great work we are doing at Oakton related to access, equity, and diversity."

At the beginning of the pilot year, each fellow will collaborate with his mentor to develop a Diversity Officer Leadership Plan, visit the CDO mentor's campus, shadowing the mentor and learn about diversity issues, policies, procedures, politics and campus climate of the mentor's institution, as well as the mentor's leadership style, strategies, successes and challenges.

The mentor will also visit the fellow's campus to better understand the diversity issues and challenges facing the fellow.

The CDO mentor and fellow will meet regularly via teleconference. At the conclusion of the fellowship, the CDO fellow and the mentor will each complete a program assessment and final report.

"Oakton serves and connects its diverse campus communities that includes many cultures, races, socioeconomic classes, gender expressions, sexual orientations, religions, abilities and ages," said Oakton President Joianne Smith.

"I am so pleased for Michael to receive this recognition for the innovative work he is doing at Oakton in deepening the college's understanding of equity, particularly as it relates to understanding and supporting our diverse student body. This fellowship will provide him further opportunity for professional development that will directly benefit our students."

More information about NADOHE is at www.nadohe.org.