TO: Employee-News
FROM: Dr. Melik Peter Khoury
DATE: April 12, 2017
SUBJECT: Leadership in Abundance: Dr. Rana Johnson Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
ATTACHMENTS: None
Colleagues,
As we complete another year of powerful learning at Unity College, I want to thank you all for your hard work over the last several months. By all accounts our students are happy, healthy, and working hard.
You will remember that the Leadership in Abundance plan first presented in August of 2015 calls for a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer to serve campus alongside other Chief Officers as first among equals with regard to matters like campus diversity and inclusion, international relationships, internal trainings, and establishing and maintaining a welcoming community culture.
I’m writing today to announce that Dr. Rana Johnson will be joining Unity College on May 15 as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.
Dr. Rana Johnson comes to Unity College from The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education where she served as Senior Associate for Diversity Outreach and Special Programs. At the CPE, Rana’s primary responsibilities included guiding efforts to increase access, retention, and the success of students that have been historically underrepresented in undergraduate and graduate education.
Prior to her position as Senior Associate, Dr. Johnson assisted with the development of the Partnership Agreement with the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, as well as the management of the Kentucky Plan for Equal Opportunities in Postsecondary Education.
Rana Johnson is a graduate of Spalding University, a 4-year private liberal arts institution in Louisville, Kentucky, earned a master’s degree from Eastern New Mexico University, and her PhD from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Johnson’s dissertation research focused on adaptation strategies to retain and graduate diverse students from traditionally white institutions.
Rana describes her approach as a strategist perspective promoting positive outcomes that improve the campus climate, as well as the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body and workforce.
Starting on May 15, Dr. Rana Johnson will report directly to me and collaborate with senior leadership across the college to establish strategic direction, lead execution of diversity and inclusivity initiatives, organize employee trainings, forge international partnerships and programs, and engage in special projects.
Rana shared that she “Welcomes the opportunity to join a leadership team in a bold, innovative, and progressive movement to promote Unity College as an institution in which diversity, inclusion and social justice are core intellectual values.”
Please join me in welcoming Rana Johnson, PhD, to the Unity College community.
In Unity,
MPK
Dr. Melik Peter Khoury
President
Unity College
Office: 207-509-7144
“Skill can be taught; loyalty can be garnered, confidence can be instilled; but attitude & integrity are inherent! So teach skill, garner loyalty; instill confidence; but never compromise on attitude & integrity.”
“Integrity, by its very existence, rekindles the belief that as a people we can live above the level of moral squalor. We need that belief; as a cynical community is a corrupt community.” John Gardner
