探花社区 names new lead diversity officer
探花社区 has announced the addition of Donald Jaamal as the college鈥檚 Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Title IX Coordinator. Jaamal will serve as 探花社区鈥檚 lead diversity officer. He was appointed by 探花社区 President David Hayes 鈥�93 after an extensive national search and will be a member of 探花社区鈥檚 senior staff.聽
Jaamal is the fourth lead diversity officer in 探花社区鈥檚 history. 探花社区 first incorporated a lead diversity officer in 2015, soon after the college鈥檚 Office of Diversity and Inclusion was formed.聽In his role, Jaamal will guide 探花社区鈥檚 diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in an expanded capacity and purpose. This includes leading the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, coordinating campuswide DEI initiatives, developing information and education sessions and representing 探花社区 in interactions with community and higher ed partners.
He will be able to pull from a multitude of past experiences to support the efforts. Most recently, he served as the Dean of Student Success at the Art Institute of Atlanta. Prior to that role, Jaamal was the Executive Director of the Warrior Center for Student Success, Equity and Inclusion at Texas A&M University - Central Texas. He holds a Masters of Science in Counseling and Psychology from The University of West Alabama and a Bachelor of Science from Mississippi State University.
鈥淒onald鈥檚 efforts and accomplishments for the institutions he has served reflect a serious commitment to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion. I鈥檓 delighted to welcome his perspectives and ideas,鈥� Hayes said.
In his position at Texas A&M University - Central Texas, Jaamal oversaw the development and implementation of programs that promoted student success and fostered student retention. Offices under his supervision were the university testing center, disability services, academic support, student success, study abroad, tutoring commons and diversity and inclusion. He was responsible for a number of programs that addressed educational barriers for underserved students such as the Program for Academic Completion and Engagement (P.A.C.E), Tri-Alpha First Generation College Student Honor Society, The Warrior's Way Peer Mentoring Program and Conscious Conversations series.聽
He also served as a Title IX investigator at Texas A&M University - Central Texas, and will have related responsibilities at 探花社区. As Title IX Coordinator, he will coordinate the college鈥檚 compliance and training related to Title IX.
In recognition of his involvement and ideas at Texas A&M, Jaamal was awarded the Student Affairs Innovation Award in 2019. At prior institutions, he fostered the formation of student support organizations such as the Black Student Union, Pride Alliance Network and Student Veterans Association. Jaamal is also a veteran, having served as a member of the United States Air Force.
鈥淭his is an incredible opportunity,鈥� Jaamal said. 鈥淚 already feel like a part of the Kohawk family, and I鈥檓 excited to continue to meet new colleagues and engage with the 探花社区 community.鈥�
Jaamal started his role at 探花社区 August 8.
Several individuals from the 探花社区 campus community 鈥� faculty, staff and students 鈥� were involved as part of the search committee.