IDEA Leaders
Overview
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.
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.
Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI)
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.
2022-23 IDEA Leaders
Name |
Unit |
Title |
| Aisha Ghori Ozaki | Office of Research | Director for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Office for Research |
| Amber Townsend |
Lurie Cancer Center; Feinberg School of Medicine |
Manager, Diversity and Inclusion FSM Cancer Center |
| Anthony McCray | Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion | DEI Communications Specialist |
| Bernard Banks | Kellogg School of Management | Associate Dean (Academic), Management and Organizations; J. L. Kellogg School of Management |
| Bruce Lindvall | McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science | Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies, Office of the Dean; Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science |
| Elisa Flores | AccessibleNU (ANU) | Assistant Director, Evanston Campus |
| Hilary Zimmerman | Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion | Director, Diversity Initiatives, Evaluation & Assessment |
| Jasmine Gurneau | Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion | Director, Native American and Indigenous Affairs |
| Jennifer Keys | Searle Center for Advancing Learning & Teaching | Director, Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching, Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching |
| Ken Woo | School of Professional Studies | Senior Director of IT & Facilities, School of Professional Studies |
| Kimberly Scott | School of Education and Social Policy | Associate Dean of Innovation and Program Development, Executive Director, MSLOC & ELOC, School of Education and Social Policy |
| Leona Quist | Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion | Executive Assistant, institutional Diversity and Inclusion |
| Lauren-Ashley Buchanan | The Graduate School |
Interim Director for Diversity and Inclusion / Associate Director, Student Life |
| Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson | Student Affairs | Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs & Chief of Staff, Vice Pres Student Affairs |
| Linda Ann Jacobs | Bienen School of Music | Assistant Dean Student Affairs Music, Administration; Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music |
| Lisa Gabrielle Williams | Alumni Relations & Development | Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Alumni Relations & Development |
| Louie Lainez | Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion | Office Manager, Institutional Diversity and Inclusion |
| Maria Elena Sanchez | University Athletics | Senior Associate AD/Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Univ Athletics - Administration |
| Matthew Johnson | Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences | Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs; Kenneth F Burgess Professor of Anthropology |
| Maureen Veronica Knight-Burrell | IT Admin Systems Application Development & Operations | Associate Director, Applications Development & Operations, IT Admin Systems Application Development & Operations |
| Michelle Manno | Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion | Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion |
| Priya Jenveja Harjani | Office of Human Resources | Associate Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Office of General Counsel |
| Reba-Anna Lee | School of Professional Studies | Assistant Dean Distance Learning, Asst Dean Distance Learning, School of Professional Studies |
| Robert Brown | Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications | Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Outreach, Administration; Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications |
| Robert Hartman | Office of Human Resources | Assistant Vice President for Human Resources |
| Robin R. Means Coleman | Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion | Vice President, Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, and Chief Diversity Officer, Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion |
| Roderick Hawkins | School of Communication | Associate Dean External Affairs & Chief of Staff, Administration; School of Communication |
| Sarah Brown | Women's Center | Director of Women's Center, Women's Center |
| Soo La Kim | School of Professional Studies | Assistant Dean Graduate Programs, Asst Dean Graduate Progs, School of Professional Studies |
| Steven Adams | University Library | Librarian, Academic Engagement: Northwestern University Library |
| Tameka Brannon | Feinberg School of Medicine | Director Diversity, Inclusion & Outreach, Deans Office; Feinberg School of Medicine |
| Victoria O Akinde | University Library | Department Head, Library, Organizational Development; Northwestern University Library |