UAH Offices of Diversity, Multicultural Affairs merge

Delois H. Smith, Vice President for the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at UAH, speaks at a recent event.

Michael Mercier | UAH

Earlier this year, The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Office of Diversity and the Office of Multicultural Affairs joined to become the UAH Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs (ODMA). The merger created an enhanced opportunity for the ODMA staff to more effectively lead the equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts for the entire university.

"The combination of these two offices makes possible an enhanced capacity for the UAH Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs to better engage the university and community through direct and indirect service, and advocacy, and offers a clear and comprehensive point of contact for individuals, organizations and publics that we serve," said Delois H. Smith, Vice President for the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at UAH.

"I believe that this new arrangement is the most effective way to lead the equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts at UAH, and offer an aggregate resource to address diversity - one of the core values of UAH's Strategic Plan 2020," said Smith. "It is important for the university community to know that ODMA is for everyone on campus."

Smith joined the university in 1984 and has held progressively responsible positions in the areas of Student Affairs and upper administration. In 2009, She was appointed by the UAH President to the position of Vice President for Diversity. She is involved in professional and consultation services in Huntsville and Madison County (Alabama) and works and serves on many university and community leadership boards, committees, and agencies.

Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Board Certified Clinical Psychotherapist, and a Qualified Intercultural Administrator. She graduated from The University of Florida with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a master's degree in Educational Psychology.

ODMA's goal is to create and support an optimal learning and working environment through diverse collaborations that support faculty EEO concerns, Affirmative Action directives and reporting, Title IX initiatives, and campus and community diversity outreach programming. ODMA incentivizes, rewards and supports efforts to advance academic and community endeavors that enhance diversity across the UAH campus and in surrounding communities and publics it serves.

The office works to achieve these goals through the following functions:

• Serving in the capacity of the university's Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action and Title IX office;
• Monitoring employment and academic hiring practices at the university for adherence to equal opportunity principles, and equity laws;
• Investigating and resolving discrimination and discriminatory harassment issues and complaints;
• Providing conflict resolution services for the university;
• Providing educational guidance and workshop opportunities on university policies and procedures regarding fair hiring, and admissions practices, diversity and inclusion in academe and in the workplace, prevention, and appropriate ways to address harassment and discrimination concerns, and current diversity skills and practices
• Advising the president and university administration on current national, state and local policies, programs, practices, and resources needed to achieve inclusive excellence and equity in research, teaching, learning, outreach, and operational activities of the university;
• Working with all segments of the university to embrace and maximize the contributions of multicultural perspectives; build the capacity to recognize, respect, and value individual differences; encourage positive interactions between diverse populations; and utilize the aggregate skills, talents, and abilities of every member of the university community.

Meet the ODMA Leadership Team

• Delois H. Smith - Vice President for the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs
• Brandie Roberts - Administrative Assistant to the Vice President
• Kimberly Crutcher-Williams - Associate Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs
• Rosemary Robinson - Diversity Initiatives Coordinator
• Brea Roper - Multicultural Affairs Assistant