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From The Desk of
Dr. Monique L. Akassi
Gearing Up For An Exciting 2022-2023 School Year!
We're here to guide you through your best year yet!
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As the summer comes to a close, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is preparing to welcome students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the global community at large back to our beloved West Liberty University! While this is certainly an exciting time, it can also be a time for worrying about how the year will go for everyone; will you fit in; will they accept you; will you make new connections; will you have a successful year? For others this is a time when one hopes to re-engage with colleagues, classmates, and/or co-workers while battling summer brain drain.
Indeed, we are all anxiously awaiting another exciting academic school year, and that is why our Volume 1 Issue 4 edition is devoted exclusively to highlighting how our fellow Hilltoppers are preparing for the forthcoming year with innovative initiatives including the implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion. From our students and the global community to our faculty and staff--we are taking the front seat in this edition and launching above and beyond with high impact practices to share with our greatly appreciated subscribers. So buckle up and prepare to soar with us!
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion's Voices on the Hilltop Newsletter is published every month, and we accept article, advertising, and announcement submissions to be considerate for publication. Would you like your voice to be heard? Contact us today at officeofdei@westliberty.edu or stop by our office anytime at 208 Shaw Hall.
Warm Regards,
Monique L. Akassi
Dr. Monique L. Akassi,
Interim Special Assistant to the President for DEI and Strategic Initiatives
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Office of DEI's Inaugural Leadership Retreat Is A Huge Success!
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On August 1, 2022 President Evans served as special guest at the inaugural Leadership Retreat for Dr. Monique L. Akassi's team, The Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Strategic Initiatives—under the leadership of Dr. Monique L. Akassi, which Media (Director Maureen Zambito), International Affairs (Director Mia Szabo), Institutional Research and Effectiveness (Director Maureen Golick), and Title IX (Director Kate Billings) also reports to Dr. Akassi—launched an inaugural Leadership Retreat for her esteemed Directors. We were honored to also have with us a special guest appearance and presentation by President W. Franklin Evans.
The main objectives from President Evans' guest presentation were to accomplish the following:
•Discover and examine individual traits and qualities of leaders.
•Probe and investigate situations for clarity and accuracy.
•Discuss various leadership styles.
•Determine and categorize one’s dominant leadership style.
•Discuss personality traits that may be characterizes as strengths or weaknesses.
“The purpose for the inaugural Leadership Retreat is to cultivate leadership and material skills in middle to upper management/leadership. The selected book for our retreat was “Our Iceberg Is Melting,” by John Kotter”
Dr. Akassi stated.
The workshop was highly successful as President shed insight on the benefits of having diversity and inclusiveness in leadership styles. The inaugural Leadership retreat was sponsored by Dr. Cathy Monteroso, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at West Liberty University.
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Professional Development Offers Deans
Chance to Share, Improve
Republished
By Maureen Zambito
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., July 26, 2022 — Leaders need to work on their skills and develop strengths, especially in the ever-changing world of Higher Education.
West Liberty University college deans met for a morning program of professional development to do just that. The planning of the program was through the Office of the Provost.
“This was planned for some time and offered us all a chance to gather, share successes and address questions. It is useful as we plan for the opening of our academic year and the welcome return of our faculty and instructors, and most especially our valued students and their families and friends,” said Interim Provost Dr. Catherine Monteroso.
Monteroso serves on the President’s Cabinet as the Chief Academic Officer (interim).
Clockwise, starting with President W. Franklin Evans (standing), Dean Vincent Mumford, Dean Ann Saurbier, Dean Nicole Ennis, Dean Karen Kettler, Dean Cecilia Konchar Farr and Provost Cathy Monteroso, gather in Shaw Hall.
Deans heard from President and CEO Dr. W. Franklin Evans as the program began.
Deans attending include:
- Dr. Nicole Ennis, interim Dean of the College of Education and Human Performance
- Dr. Cecilia Konchar Farr, Dean of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts
- Dr. Karen Kettler, Dean of the College of Sciences
- Dr. Vincent Mumford, Dean of Graduate Studies
- Dr. Ann Saurbier, Dean of the Gary E. West College of Business
Students return to campus the weekend of Aug. 19 and classes begin on the Main Campus on Aug. 22, 2022.
West Liberty University was West Virginia’s first public institution of higher learning and offers more than 70 undergraduate majors, plus a growing number of graduate programs, both online and on campus. For more information, please call 1.866.937.8542 (WESTLIB), visit westliberty.edu or follow WLU on social media. To view more about WLU, please visit westliberty.edu/youtube.
WLU's President Evan's Takes A Delve Into Providing a Leadership Retreat for Deans With DEI Emphasis
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Research shows West Liberty University's Office of DEI Is Making A Major Difference In An Increase In Diverse Student Applicants | |
Congratulations, Sydney Burkle--
DEI's Spotlight Student of the Month!
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Congratulations, Sydney Burkle!
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is proud to announce our first DEI Student Spotlight of the Month, SGA President, Ms. Sydney Burkle! Since Ms. Burkle's arrival as West Liberty University's SGA President in 2022, she has demonstrated her willingness and commitment to build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive experience for students at West Liberty University, From partnering with the Office of DEI to offer DEI workshops to the Panhellenic Council on campus to serving on the DEI Advisory Committee--Ms. Burkle is dedicated to cultivating unity on campus. Recently we interviewed Ms. Burkle during the official announcement that she was selected to be the DEI Student Spotlight of the Month, and the following correspondence below is a testimony to the importance of supporting and advocating West Liberty University's student leaders to drive the mission and vision of WLU.
Dr. Akassi: Congratulations on being selected as our very first DEI Student Spotlight of the Month! Please, tell us about yourself, Ms. Burkle.
Ms. Burkle: My name is Sydney Burkle, and I am embarking on my senior year here at West Liberty University as a student in the Gary E. West College of Business, marketing program. Currently I am the student body president as well as the Vice President of Recruitment for the Panhellenic Council. Over my college career, I have been chapter President of my sorority as well as Philanthropy Vice President.
Dr. Akassi: Wow! You have a highly impressive background. Can you share with us how your background have contributed to your beliefs about the importance of leadership and collaboration and its intersection with diversity, equity and inclusion?
Ms. Burkle: Leadership and collaboration are important to me. Bringing students together to grow and expand their knowledge is on the top of my priority list at all times. With this comes the importance of emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices for our student groups. DEI is at the fore front of what we are accomplishing as a Student Government Association, and as a Panhellenic Council. I find great value in initiating vulnerable conversation among my peers in order to spark an interest in and an improvement among our DEI efforts.
Dr. Akassi: Highly impressive, indeed; we are truly grateful and honored to have you and so many others lead and serve towards an evolving West Liberty University experience here on the hilltop for students. Can you share any exciting initiatives you are working on with your team for the upcoming 2022-2023 academic year at WLU and any additional final words?
Ms. Burkle: Over the coming year, I look forward to working with the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to bring programs and knowledge to the students of West Liberty University. It is an honor and privilege to be the inaugural recipient of this student spotlight. Thanks again.
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The Office of DEI Is Awarded Two Grants and Counting
This week the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was awarded two grants funded by the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) in the amount of $5,000 and$3,816 to continue providing innovative initiatives and activities in DEI for West Liberty University students, and to assist with the inaugural forthcoming International Conference for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The first grant was written by Dr. Felipe Rojas, Mr. Chris McPherson, and Ms. Kate Billings--all members of the DEI Committee. The second grant was written by Dr. Monique L. Akassi, Interim Special Assistant to the President for DEI and Strategic Initiatives.
This upcoming 2022-2023 academic school year will mark the fourth year in a row that DEI has received grant funding through the HEPC and the first time in history that West Liberty University has received two grants simultaneously in one academic year through HEPC for two initiatives under the auspices of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has also received donations recently from several donors to strengthen DEI initiatives through the Office of DEI with the support of Mrs. Angie Hill and the Foundation--including scholarships, and activities this year from Trustee Stephanie Shaw, Trustee Arlene Brantley, and Bishop Darrell Cummings. The Office of DEI is committed to strengthening the mission at West Liberty University, and donations to the Office of DEI are always accepted and appreciated. Please make a tax deductible donation today by clicking on the link below and specify in the special request comment box that your donation should go to the Office of DEI Donations.
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On Diversity: Access Ain't Inclusion
By: Anthony Jack
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| Are you coming to the Open Mic Poetry Night, and are you interested in performing? |
| Quad Outdoors or Ballroom if there is rain. |
| 08/31/22 8:00pm - 08/31/22 11:00pm US/Eastern |
| Special guest appearances, free food, DEI buttons for everyone to create, opportunities to perform a spoken word, art, dance, and/or song. | | | | | | |
