Quinnipiac University’s Office of Inclusive Excellence, formerly the Department of Cultural and Global Engagement (DCGE), is welcoming two new members, Briona Grant, the Assistant Director of Inclusive Excellence; and Cheri Brooks, the Assistant Director for Student Success and Leadership. These hires are filling the office which has experienced staffing struggles over the past year.
In just over a year, the university lost six diversity officials, including two Title IX officials.
Interim Vice President for Inclusive Excellence David Fryson who joined Quinnipiac in January 2024, told QUToday, “My first priority was to make sure not only that we filled all the available slots in the office, but to also add a new position that the office didn’t have before.”
The new role of Assistant Director for Student Success and Leadership, filled by Brooks, was created to target support for first-generation and diverse students’ success.
In anticipation of her new role, Brooks told QUToday, “I enthusiastically take on this role, trusting that my previous experiences and recently acquired organizational leadership degree will make a positive impact on our students by promoting access, success and leadership training to traditionally underrepresented and first-generation students.”
Working towards the same goal of campus inclusion, Grant said, “This opportunity is profoundly meaningful to me, as it aligns perfectly with my passion for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in every aspect of campus life. By engaging in this role, I aim to make a significant impact on the lives of students, faculty, and staff, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.”
When further discussing the full staffing Grant explained, “I understand the significant impact this can have on supporting our marginalized groups… Now, with a fully staffed office, I am excited about the opportunities this brings to our campus. We are in a much stronger position to cultivate comprehensive programming, training, and initiatives that will not only support but also celebrate the diversity of our community. ”
The full staffing will impact the campus community with more resources including staffing and a remodeled space, “We redeveloped our physical space here and made a new, student-friendly lounge space,” Claude Mayo, the Director of Inclusive Excellence said to QUToday.
In a QUToday article, Fryson said, “I think under this University’s leadership and the framework of our strategic plan, we are providing an opportunity for the office to be an integral part of the everyday experience at Quinnipiac; and not just for students, because we are campus wide.”
