The man who was recently hired as the UM System Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer will also serve a similar role on the Columbia campus on an interim basis. MU Interim Chancellor Hank Foley announced Monday that Kevin McDonald will serve as MU’s interim vice chancellor for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity effective immediately.
Former MU interim vice chancellor for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Chuck Henson held the position for approximately six months.
MU News Bureau spokesperson Christian Basi said that this appointment will help continue MU and the UM System’s work together.
“Having him in this dual role will help bridge that work seamlessly. His expertise, his experience in this position and similar positions at other institutions will help us a great deal as we move forward,” Basi said.
McDonald says he is excited to build relationships with faculty, staff and students at MU. He said he hopes to be on MU’s campus a few times a week to help strengthen those ties and to continue to have context of university situations.
“I think it helps you establish strong credibility and trust, and being able to engage them at levels they deem appropriate, that they see themselves as equal partners in this work. I think that’s so important. It’s going to be critically important moving in,” McDonald said.
Before McDonald’s roles with the UM System and MU, he served as the vice president and associate provost for diversity and inclusion at the Rochester institute of Technology. He was also the vice president for equity and inclusion at Virginia Tech.
McDonald holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Andrews University, a law degree from The Ohio State University and a doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of Rochester.
