I hope your fall semester is off to the best possible start. I know how hard everyone is working to provide outstanding experiences to our students. Thank you for all that you are doing.

I’m writing to update you about our campus-wide efforts to combat anti-Black racism. As you know, earlier this summer President Nair announced action steps to support, protect, and improve the Arcadia experience for our Black community members. The more than three dozen initiatives represent an essential and complex mix of efforts that will require sustained focus, collaboration, and courage.  

Over the summer we pulled together a project management group of staff and faculty that will be tasked with moving a significant number of ABRI initiatives forward, paying particular attention to support for students, recruitment and retention of faculty and staff, curricular infusion, programming and partnerships, and the possibility of creating a related academic center. As project managers, they will support soon-to-be formed working groups as they lay out initiative plans, establish milestones, track progress, and coordinate the countless interconnected parts among these wide-ranging initiatives. This talented a dedicated group includes Priscilla Jeter-Iles, Angela McNeil, Dian Taylor-Alleyne, Cristina Cintron-Marsh, Graciela Slesaransky-Poe, Ana Maria Garcia, May Their Aye, Kate Hanley, Sandi Crenshaw, Andrew Goretsky, Bridget Miller, and Rebecca Kohn. 

Some of you will hear more from the team soon as they endeavor to finalize the rosters of the working groups. We will do our best to keep the Arcadia community informed and engaged. We are counting on you!  

Sincerely,

Jeff Rutenbeck
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs