Wanda Mitchell, former Vice President for Inclusive Excellence, dies at 57

Wanda S. Mitchell, Ed.D, former Vice President for Inclusive Excellence, passed away earlier this month. Mitchell served as a prominent voice in the VCU community as her department was responsible for developing a climate of inclusion and equity on campus.

In fall 2015, protests broke out at the University of Missouri following a series of racially motivated incidents involving students of color and the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson. VCU students followed in their footsteps and held demonstrations on campus to voice their concerns regarding the lack of inclusion of black and minority voices on campus.

Mitchell was one of the handful of administrators that spearheaded direct conversations between students and administration. VCU President Michael Rao Ph.D, said in a press release that he turned to Mitchell as a guiding figure to increase the university’s awareness of its diverse student population.

“Her reputation as a bridge builder and strategic thinker preceded her, and, indeed, she set a high bar for all of us at VCU, challenging us to think about diversity in new ways and to double-down on our efforts to be more inclusive,” Rao said.

Mitchell has a long history in higher education — over 30 years to be exact. She spent time as an affiliate professor in the Department of Counseling and Special Education in the School of Education. There, she conducted research exploring the role of counseling in diverse communities and the advancement of women.

Charles Klink, Ph.D, Senior Vice Provost for the Division of Student Affairs, remembers Mitchell as someone who connected with students, faculty and other colleagues on a “deep level.”

“Dr. Mitchell was someone that had devoted her life to issues of justice and equity,” Klink said. “Personally, I know that I am a better person and professional for having had the opportunity to work with, and learn from, Dr. Mitchell.”

Kevin Allison Ph.D is currently serving as the interim Vice President for Inclusive Excellence, but according to Michael Porter, a spokesperson for VCU, the search is underway for a permanent replacement. They hope to find and announce the new vice president some time this fall.


Hiba Ahmad

News Editor

 

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