Leadership Profile


Mark A. Edwards PhD                                                                
Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity & Community
Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs
Director - Office of Multicultural Affairs
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Sociology

104C Administration
(208) 885-6444
medwards@uidaho.edu

Facilitating and overseeing diversity-related curriculum transformation and development and teaching in partnership with faculty, staff and students. Coordinating existing campus-wide committees to address issues of diversity and equity. Assisting the president, provost and university community in accomplishing diversity goals and creating a campus climate that values diversity as a defining characteristic of the learning community. Developing and supporting a cadre of representatives from academic and non-academic units at all statewide locations to assist and advise on recruitment, retention and hiring procedures that promote diversity and support human rights. Facilitating development and implementation of comprehensive strategies for cultural and climate change, integrating diversity issues into the fabric of the university.

Facilitating the redesign of the university’s core recruitment and retention strategies on an on-going basis. Facilitating development of an implementation plan for recruitment and direct marketing efforts, encompassing all stages of recruitment. Collaborating and consulting with campus officials to assist in their efforts to attract and retain diversity student body and workforce. Working collaboratively with the campus community to coordinate programs to assist the university in cultivating and retaining minority faculty, staff and students. Facilitating the implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive diversity plan that promotes assertive, innovative, and positive measures for the recruitment and retention of under-represented faculty and staff.

Collecting and analyzing data, and evaluating current recruitment strategies; making detailed recommendations regarding recruitment practices necessary to achieve specific recruitment goals. Ensuring that equity and diversity-related reporting methods and data and information requirements are developed for meaningful campus-wide analysis. Coordinating climate survey data collection regarding diversity and other equity issues.

Employment History:

2008 – present Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity and Community and Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs, University of Idaho

2007 – Director, Diversity and Community, University of Idaho

2005-2007 Dean of Institutional Diversity, Affirmative Action Officer, Colgate University

2003-2005 Assistant Dean of Multicultural Affairs, and Director, Office of Undergraduate Studies, Colgate University

1998-2005 Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology/Anthropology Colgate University

1996-1998 Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology/Anthropology, St. Cloud State University

Educational Background:

Ph.D. Sociology, South Dakota State University
M.A. Sociology, University of Oklahoma
B.S. Sociology/Criminal Justice, East Central University
A.S. Science, Seminole State College