The Division of Equity, Diversity and Global Outreach announces upcoming staff changes that will take effect Sept. 1.
Robert Pieri, who has been serving the division as the Tribal College Partnership Coordinator since the division was created in 2008, will return to his position as professor of mechanical engineering. Pieri devoted many hours and miles of travel to develop partnerships with regional tribal colleges. In addition to making campus visits across the state, he hosted several Get to Know Your Tribal College Partners events at NDSU. During three years of his grant-funded position, Pieri also worked with members of the American Indian Society of Engineering Students organization as they hosted a regional conference and assisted with campus initiatives sponsored by the division. "Dr. Bob has been working tirelessly to build successful partnerships between NDSU and Tribal Colleges over the past several years. We greatly appreciate all that he has done and wish him well as he transitions back into his faculty role," said Evie Myers, vice president for equity, diversity and global outreach.
Jaclynn Davis Wallette, assistant vice president for equity, diversity and global outreach, will transition into the position as coordinator for tribal college outreach initiatives this fall. The position was created in a joint effort between the division and NDSU Extension Services and will be in effect for the next two years. As the coordinator for tribal college and community outreach initiatives, Davis Wallette will build on the work Pieri began to strengthen relationships between NDSU and regional tribal colleges. In addition, she will expand the focus of the initiative to establish outreach efforts to regional tribal communities. As Davis Wallette transitions into this new position, she will step down from her responsibilities as director of the Office of Multicultural Programs, a position that she has held since 2005.
Kara Gravley-Stack, director of diversity initiatives for equity, diversity and global outreach, will serve as director for the Office of Multicultural Programs starting Sept. 1. Gravley-Stack will continue to direct the Equity and Diversity Center, a position she has held with the division since 2008.