Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Historically, the Chief Diversity Officer’s role within CUNY (City University of New York) was to focus on compliance which included serving as the Title IX Officer, leading all investigations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and managing all components of employee recruitment. Following an accreditation visit, there was a recommendation made that the College of Staten Island (CSI) needed to have a Cabinet-level position that focused on strengthening the efforts of diversity, equity, and inclusion. As such, President Lynch commenced a successful search for the role of the inaugural Executive Chief Diversity Officer and Special Assistant to the President who would lead compliance and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts at the college. In January 2023, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) was formed. For more information about the role of Chief Diversity Officers, please review the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) Standards of Professional Practice.  

Empowered by the late, most Honorable John Lewis’s speech, ODEI takes pride in getting into “good, necessary trouble” which entails our practices that will have a systemic, structural, and personal impact on our internal and external communities. ODEI’s purpose is to be a transformational catalyst for systemic, structural, and personal change that allows us to best serve our internal and external communities. ODEI seeks to be the leading division within CUNY that embodies, practices, advocates, and holds the institution accountable for diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are here to lead and assist in building cultural competency with the goal of enhancing the campus climate.  At the College of Staten Island, we seek to embrace diversity, center equity, and practice inclusion in hopes of creating a sense of belonging at our institution where all are welcomed. As a division, we provide various trainings, consultations, and partner with our colleagues, students, and community in hopes of establishing a more inclusive community.

ODEI is also charged to maintain compliance in several ways. We ensure compliance through the law, CUNY policies, and lead investigations as it pertains to nondiscrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Additionally, ODEI oversees recruitment efforts that promote affirmative action and comply with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regulations. We approach our work through the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and intersectionality which also allows us to create policies for CSI.  For more information, please see the policies linked at the bottom of this page.

Feel free to peruse our site and become familiar with our division, the various departments within and learn more about our impact. As our division is new and growing, please expect the same for our webpage. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at DEI@csi.cuny.edu

With Hope,

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI)