nadohe -

by Roger L. Worthington

San Diego, CA – On February 10 – 13 the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) held our 2nd Annual National Conference in conjunction with the American Council on Education (ACE) in sunny Southern California. The NADOHE Board of Directors met to discuss overwhelming progress and minor challenges faced by our fledgling organization during its first year of official existence. NADOHE President Bill Harvey highlighted the greater than expected number of charter members, reaching 109 institutional members, which far exceeded the 50-60 institutions anticipated during early planning meetings. Strategies to further advance the mission, vision and goals of NADOHE were also discussed, including ways in which NADOHE members can participate in the democratic processes of the association.

The Board appointed co-chairs for a new set of committees (or working groups) that will engage in essential planning and make recommendations to the Board on a variety of critical organizational issues. Membership co-chairs were sought at the Networking Breakfast on Wednesday morning. Committees and Board co-chairs include the following (volunteers for members of these committees are still needed):

Communications/Marketing: Roger Worthington (WorthingtonR@missouri.edu)
Membership: Archie Irvin (aervin@EMAIL.UNC.EDU)
Conference: Benjamin Reese (ben.reese@DUKE.EDU)
Nominating: Carmen Coustaut (coustaut@uark.edu)
Advancement/Development/Fundraising: William Harvey (wbh6z@ESERVICES.VIRGINIA.EDU)
Finance and Audit Committee: Rosemary Kilkenny (kilkennr@georgetown.edu)
Bylaws Committee: Debra Seeberger (dseeberger@towson.edu)
Professional Development: Wanda Mitchell (Wanda.Mitchell@UNH.EDU) and
Juan Munoz (juan.munoz@ttu.edu)

Damon Williams and Katrina Wade-Golden presented their research on the CDO role to a packed audience. ACE and ING generously supplied free copies of their monograph to all attendees, and they will mail free copies to all institutional members who were unable to attend.

James M. Rosser, President of California State University, Los Angeles received the Frank W. Hale, Jr. Diversity Leadership Award, and provided a compelling and inspiring keynote speech at the NADOHE banquet on Tuesday night.

By all accounts, the conference was a tremendous success. NADOHE sessions were often filled to capacity and at times were standing room only and overflowing. In addition to the critical issues that were presented, discussed and addressed, there was a tremendous community spirit and good opportunities for networking.