Katie Lampley '96 Named Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Dear Members of the Bentley Community,
In June, the Cabinet and I shared an update about our continued commitment to making Bentley a better, anti-racist university. Since then, the new Task Force on Racial Justice has held first meetings and begun its work with more than 100 faculty, staff, students and alumni who stepped forward to be a part of change at Bentley. The Cabinet and I have also been carefully working on a series of initiatives that will jumpstart our progress in addressing systemic barriers to becoming a more actively anti-racist university. Tomorrow, we will share more details about these first initiatives that are owned by each vice president and division, but today I’m proud to announce two institutional updates that will set the tone for our approach in the weeks and months ahead.
There are few members of the Bentley community who have done more to tirelessly advance the university’s mission than Katie Lampley, assistant provost for diversity and inclusion. A graduate of the Class of 1996 and now a long-time member of the university staff, Katie has dedicated so much of her life to Bentley and to making this a stronger institution. Today, I am announcing the promotion of Katie to become Bentley’s first official Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and a member of the President’s Cabinet.
For years, Katie has provided vision, leadership and coordination for strategic institutional planning to ensure inclusive environments and equitable outcomes for all faculty, staff and students. Her work has promoted an inclusive work and learning environment by supporting student- and employee-led initiatives, resource development and advocacy for affinity groups. She has worked closely with every member of the Cabinet, and this new position formalizes the vital relationship and role she plays at Bentley.
Q and A with Katie Lampley about the new Racial Justice Task Force
Katie has been a student, an alumna and a staff member who has seen and experienced Bentley’s highs and lows over the course of multiple decades. She has seen how the university’s efforts in racial justice and diversity and inclusion have grown and evolved over time. Most importantly, she knows that our effort in this area requires a commitment to consistent improvement and investment in the kind of community we want to create. Katie’s new role is exactly that: one step in improving and investing in that community we want. The university and this leadership team will be stronger because Katie is a part of every discussion and decision we make moving forward. Please join me in congratulating Katie on her new role.
I’m also proud to inform you that the Bentley Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to create a new standing committee of the board on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This new committee will be chaired by Trustee Tanya Hairston-Whitner ‘95, and Katie Lampley in her role as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer will be the staff liaison. The charter and membership of this committee will be developed in the weeks ahead, but the members of the board and I are excited to take this exceptional step in creating a standing committee that will hold us all accountable, from the top, for the strategic direction of diversity, equity and inclusion at Bentley.
Tomorrow, you will hear from the Cabinet on a set of first, concrete and immediate initiatives that are aimed at combatting structural and systemic racism at Bentley. I am proud of the work that the Cabinet has put into developing these initiatives, and I know they have been appreciative of Katie Lampley’s close partnership in the development of these individual plans over the past few weeks.
Today’s announcements and tomorrow’s initiatives are a strong step forward for Bentley, but they will require the continued hard work of every member of this university community. I am confident we will continue to make progress, together.
Paul Condrin
Chair of the Board and Acting President