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