Fostering Inclusivity: How to Create an Environment That Welcomes Everyone

Rowan University is adapting to recent federal changes by improving our commitment to providing high-quality, affordable education for all students. We understand that these shifts can create uncertainty, but we’re confident they will strengthen our inclusive and student-focused environment.

The Department of Education recently shared important updates on civil rights laws, influenced by the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. They clarified that certain diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that offer benefits based on race or other protected classifications are against federal law and must end by February 28. This affects all schools receiving federal funding.

At Rowan, we don’t use racial preferences for admissions, hiring, or scholarships. We are currently reviewing our programs and policies to ensure that they support everyone.

To align with these federal guidelines, we’ve made some changes within our organization. We have reorganized the former Division of Inclusive Excellence, Community & Belonging to better meet these compliance needs while continuing to support our students.

Penny McPherson-Myers is now the vice president of the Division of Student Access & Pathway Programs. This division will oversee vital support services like CHAMP/GEAR UP and Upward Bound for English Language Learners. Janelle Alexander and Brett Pulliam will assist in managing these areas.

Accessibility Services, led by John Woodruff, and the Center for Neurodiversity, led by Chiara Latimer, have joined the Division of Student Affairs and University College, now under Rory McElwee.

We’ve also created a new Center for Belonging & Student Engagement, led by Dominique Pierson, which will be part of the Center for Well-Being under Kha’ Sadler’s direction.

In addition, Naima Hall will serve as the assistant vice president for Wellness Inclusivity at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, reporting to Dr. Anne Jones.

We value our staff and are dedicated to improving our student support systems. Our leadership is considering these changes carefully, gathering input from our community. Staff in these departments were informed about the changes earlier this week.

With the upcoming deadline on February 28, we are implementing these structural adjustments right away. However, our work doesn’t stop there. We will continue to assess our programs and update our communications to ensure clarity and inclusivity for everyone.

For more information about how these changes might affect our operations, please visit our webpage on federal policy updates. If you have specific questions, reach out to the relevant division vice president or email us at officeofthepresident@rowan.edu.

Thank you for your understanding as we navigate these changes while staying true to our mission.

Best regards,

Ali A. Houshmand, Ph.D.
President

Anthony M. Lowman, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs