IDEA Leaders

IDEA Leaders (formerly known as the Diversity Leaders Group, or DLG) is a university-wide collective of senior diversity leaders, representing Northwestern University’s schools/colleges and major administrative units, who have primary responsibility for inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability (IDEA) in their areas.

The group is convened by OIDI, a central unit within the Provost’s Office. IDEA Leaders form a knowledgeable advisory body for OIDI’s Vice President and Associate Provost/CDO and work with OIDI on navigating challenges and advancing initiatives. Working together as a brain trust, we move forward Northwestern University’s strategic goals and institutional commitments to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability.

Roles and Responsibilities

IDEA Leaders are charged both within their respective units and institutionally to:

Advise on IDEA policies, rules, and guidelines (PRGs) in their units and support the broader institutional decision-making on IDEA PRGs
Disseminate information, best practices, and key initiatives happening across the university to their units.
Serve as a catalyst for IDEA creativity and innovation
Establish accountability benchmarks for and ensure progress toward strategic IDEA goals

Appointment

IDEA Leaders are often the first point of contact for inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability efforts within their unit. Appointments are made by the unit’s highest-ranking leadership (e.g., Dean, VP), who is a key partner in advancing organizational change and process with particular attention to how IDEA shows up at every level of the structure.

2022-2023 IDEA Leaders

Name	Unit	Title
Aisha Ghori Ozaki	Office of Research	Director for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Office for Research
Amber Townsend	Lurie Cancer Center; Feinberg School of Medicine	Manager, Diversity and Inclusion FSM Cancer Center
Anthony McCray	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	DEI Communications Specialist
Bernard Banks	Kellogg School of Management	Associate Dean (Academic), Management and Organizations; J. L. Kellogg School of Management
Bruce Lindvall	McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science	Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies, Office of the Dean; Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Elisa Flores	AccessibleNU (ANU)	Assistant Director, Evanston Campus
Hilary Zimmerman	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Director, Diversity Initiatives, Evaluation & Assessment
Jasmine Gurneau	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Director, Native American and Indigenous Affairs
Jennifer Keys	Searle Center for Advancing Learning & Teaching	Director, Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching, Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching
Ken Woo	School of Professional Studies	Senior Director of IT & Facilities, School of Professional Studies
Kimberly Scott	School of Education and Social Policy	Associate Dean of Innovation and Program Development, Executive Director, MSLOC & ELOC, School of Education and Social Policy
Leona Quist	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Executive Assistant, institutional Diversity and Inclusion
Lauren-Ashley Buchanan	The Graduate School	Interim Director for Diversity and Inclusion / Associate Director, Student Life
Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson	Student Affairs	Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs & Chief of Staff, Vice Pres Student Affairs
Linda Ann Jacobs	Bienen School of Music	Assistant Dean Student Affairs Music, Administration; Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music
Lisa Gabrielle Williams	Alumni Relations & Development	Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Alumni Relations & Development
Louie Lainez	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Office Manager, Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
Maria Elena Sanchez	University Athletics	Senior Associate AD/Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Univ Athletics - Administration
Matthew Johnson	Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences	Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs; Kenneth F Burgess Professor of Anthropology
Maureen Veronica Knight-Burrell	IT Admin Systems Application Development & Operations	Associate Director, Applications Development & Operations, IT Admin Systems Application Development & Operations
Michelle Manno	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion
Priya Jenveja Harjani	Office of Human Resources	Associate Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Office of General Counsel
Reba-Anna Lee	School of Professional Studies	Assistant Dean Distance Learning, Asst Dean Distance Learning, School of Professional Studies
Robert Brown	Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications	Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Outreach, Administration; Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications
Robert Hartman	Office of Human Resources	Assistant Vice President for Human Resources
Robin R. Means Coleman	Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion	Vice President, Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, and Chief Diversity Officer, Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
Roderick Hawkins	School of Communication	Associate Dean External Affairs & Chief of Staff, Administration; School of Communication
Sarah Brown	Women's Center	Director of Women's Center, Women's Center
Soo La Kim	School of Professional Studies	Assistant Dean Graduate Programs, Asst Dean Graduate Progs, School of Professional Studies
Steven Adams	University Library	Librarian, Academic Engagement: Northwestern University Library
Tameka Brannon	Feinberg School of Medicine	Director Diversity, Inclusion & Outreach, Deans Office; Feinberg School of Medicine
Victoria O Akinde	University Library	Department Head, Library, Organizational Development; Northwestern University Library