IUPUI Chancellor Appoints Assistant Chancellor for Diversity

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Chancellor Charles R. Bantz today (Feb. 22, 2008) announced the appointment of Kenneth B. Durgans as assistant chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion, pending approval by the Indiana University Board of Trustees.

As assistant chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Durgans will serve as the campus's full-time chief diversity officer and will report directly to the chancellor.

Durgans, currently vice provost for institute diversity at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N. Y., will assume his post at IUPUI on July 1, 2008.

The appointment of a full-time chief diversity officer for the IUPUI campus is an integral part of efforts to improve diversity on the urban research campus, says Bantz.

"It is a critical step in IUPUI's efforts to advance diversity in employment, the curriculum, and the student body. It is a critical step in making IUPUI more inclusive and welcoming to all; and it is a critical step in assuring equity in all we do," Chancellor Bantz said. "Dr. Durgans has helped universities take these steps throughout his 25-year career. We welcome him to IUPUI and look forward to his leadership in making IUPUI a model of diversity."

Durgans holds a doctorate of education from Western Michigan University; a master's degree in school counseling from the University of Dayton; and a master's in student personnel from Kent State University. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and history from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.

During his 25-year career in higher education administration, Durgans has held diversity-related positions at several universities, including director of minority student affairs at the University of Notre Dame; executive director of diversity development at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio; and his current position at Rensselaer.

The newly appointed IUPUI administrator says that during his visits to IUPUI, he has sensed the campus commitment to diversity, and he looks forward to working in partnership with administrators, faculty, staff and students to make diversity programs and efforts more effective.

"I felt very strongly that Chancellor Bantz is very committed to the mission of diversity.

The supporting of the Multicultural Center and this (assistant chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion) position are indicators of that," Durgans said.

"There is a diversity infrastructure in place on the campus and there is a passion about diversity. People are passionate about making the IUPUI campus the best place for everyone."

Durgans says that as assistant chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion, he plans to bring a positive energy and enthusiasm anchored in a collaborative approach that is directly linked to the mission and goals of IUPUI.

"It really is about building partnerships and relationships," he said. "That is really how it works. It really has to be a community effort."

For example, if the issue is retention of underrepresented minorities, faculty and student services have to work together to make it happen, Durgans said.

Durgans' vision is for all campus diversity metrics - whether it is diversity at all levels, or the retention of underrepresented minorities - to show significant increases, and for all segments of the campus to communicate and embrace diversity in a natural way.

As Rensselaer's chief campus diversity administrator, Durgans developed the institution's diversity plan; played an instrumental role in increasing the number of women faculty from 13 to 21 percent; served as co-principal investigator for the $3 million Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation grant; and aided in the organization of a process to address salary equity issues. He also coordinated the annual Black Family Technology Day to promote the awareness of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines among minority children.

Durgans' signature career achievements also include organizing the campus diversity committee and leading the effort to create a diversity plan at Xavier; creating the student disabilities plan at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine; and developing the diversity plan and the diversity board at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.