Troy, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson has named Kenneth B. Durgans the university's vice provost for institute diversity. Durgans began his appointment at Rensselaer at the start of the semester.

As vice provost for institute diversity, Durgans is responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of diversity initiatives across all schools and programs at Rensselaer. He will work, on a departmental level, to infuse diversity across the planning process; assist in the recruitment of minority faculty, staff, graduate, and undergraduate students; and continue the Institute's efforts to foster an environment on campus that is conducive to supporting diversity.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Durgans, who brings extensive experience that will enable him to serve Rensselaer well in the position of vice provost for institute diversity," said Jackson. "I look forward to working with him in leading Rensselaer's efforts to build a diverse community that welcomes all people, regardless of race and gender, and a student body and faculty that better represent the makeup of our society."

"We are extremely pleased to have someone with Dr. Durgans' breadth of experience join us here at Rensselaer," said G.P. "Bud" Peterson, provost of Rensselaer. "The combination of his experience and his educational background make him uniquely qualified to make a significant and lasting contribution to the people, programs, and platforms here at Rensselaer."

Durgans came to Rensselaer from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, where, under his guidance, overall diversity of tenure-track faculty jumped 150 percent. At Xavier, he most recently served as executive director for diversity development and adjunct professor of advanced educational psychology. In his position in diversity development, Durgans was responsible for informing the various university constituencies about diversity issues through the development, coordination, and implementation of programs and strategies. He also acted as a resource to the university on diversity issues, and helped identify, review, and recommend changes in Xavier's programs, policies, and procedures as they affected the recruitment and retention of a diverse population of administration, faculty, staff, and students. Through his efforts, a campus diversity advisory committee was established, and outreach into the underserved communities surrounding Xavier expanded.

Before starting at Xavier, Durgans worked as the assistant to the president of minority affairs and affirmative action, and as assistant adjunct professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in Rootstown, Ohio. He also had stints as the director of multicultural services at Olivet College in Olivet, Mich.; as the director educational talent search for Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, Mich.; and as the director of minority student affairs at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind.

Durgans earned his doctorate in education from Western Michigan University. He received a master of science degree in school counseling from the University of Dayton, a master of arts in college student personnel from Kent State University, and a bachelor of arts in political science and history from Baldwin-Wallace College. A prolific speaker on diversity and minority recruitment issues, Durgans has made numerous presentations on the topics at national gatherings for such groups as the Association of American Medical Colleges, the National Association of Medical Minority Educators, and the Akron General Hospital. He belongs to several professional and personal organizations, including the American Association of Black Psychologists, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Phi Kappa Delta fraternity for professional educators, among others.

Contact: Caroline Jenkins
Phone: (518) 276-6531
E-mail: N/A