USC board of trustees names top diversity officer
The University of South Carolina has selected a new chief diversity officer.
Julian Williams was unanimously named to the top position during a Friday board of trustees meeting.
Williams currently serves as vice president of inclusion and diversity at George Mason University, a school of more than 37,000 students in Fairfax, Virginia. There, a plan he implemented increased the number of full-time faculty of color by 7%, according to his online USC bio.
“It is an honor to be selected to lead inclusion and diversity efforts at South Carolina’s flagship institution,” Williams said in a press release. “My goal is to bring to the forefront a community-developed vision for inclusion and diversity ensuring that all members of the USC community are able to bring their authentic selves to campus every day.
Williams will be paid $250,000 per year and will start on June 15, USC President Robert Caslen said. Until then, interim provost Tayloe Harding will appoint an interim chief diversity officer, Caslen said.
“I’m thrilled Julian is joining our Gamecock family, and I’m certain he’ll do a tremendous job leading our efforts to promote diversity and inclusion on our campus and beyond,” Caslen said in a press release. “His experience in executing successful strategies to ensure campus life better reflects and celebrates the communities in which institutions serve makes him ideal for this important role.”
Chief diversity officer is a relatively new position. Before the vote, USC had had only one person, John Dozier, serve in this position. Dozier was a finalist to keep his position at USC, but earlier this month was poached by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The choice was a crucial one for Caslen. During last year’s presidential selection process, USC faced internal and external pressure to increase diversity on campus and to appoint people of color to top positions.
Shortly after taking office, Caslen launched the search for a new chief diversity officer and “elevated” the position, meaning the chief diversity officer now reports directly to him.