Durand to help lead diversity, climate efforts

‘I have learned how much this campus can accomplish …’

Bernice Durand, a professor of physics who has been deeply involved in campus climate and diversity programs, has been chosen by Provost Peter Spear to become the university’s associate vice chancellor for diversity and climate.

Spear created the position and reorganized the duties of the existing associate vice chancellors last fall to better position his office to address campus priorities, especially climate and diversity. The associate vice chancellor for diversity and climate replaces a vacant position that oversaw duties now shared by other associate vice chancellors.

“It is essential to the continued success of UW–Madison that we increase the diversity of our faculty, staff and students, and encourage a positive living and working environment for the entire campus community,” Spear says. “Bernice’s tireless dedication to increased diversity and improved campus climate makes her the perfect choice to help lead our efforts.”

In her new role, Durand will provide leadership to ensure that faculty, staff and student diversity and climate issues are addressed. Among her many responsibilities will be to help implement the recommendations of the Campus Climate Network Group, an advisory committee chaired by Spear and made up of a cross section of the campus community.

Durand will work to implement the campus goals contained in UW–Madison Plan 2008, a blueprint for attaining the diversity goals adopted by the Board of Regents, and aimed at boosting the recruitment and retention of minority faculty, staff and students.

Durand will also develop ways to evaluate current practices and policies, develop accountability measures and collect benchmarking information. In addition, she will work with campus staff and academic programs to develop and enhance diversity and climate content for university training sessions, assist in aligning academic programs with campus diversity goals, work with the Equity and Diversity Resource Center to coordinate sexual harassment information sessions, and oversee the development of ombuds services.

Because diversity and climate issues affect all aspects of campus life, Durand’s responsibilities will require a close working relationship with Spear, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Paul Barrows, the other associate vice chancellors and the campus community.

“I am very excited about working with the groups and individuals who have been planning and making progress in these two interrelated areas during the past two years,” Durand says. “Everyone on campus deserves an environment of mutual respect and acceptance, free from prejudgment. We have some big steps to take. I look forward to serving as a coordinator and a support person as we all move toward this goal.”

Durand has played a key role in the development and implementation of Plan 2008. In 1998-99, she worked with Barrows, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Ruby Paredes, the university community and the public to research and draft the plan. She oversaw the plan’s implementation while co-chairing the Plan 2008 Steering Committee and Plan 2008 Oversight Committee during 1998-2001. These groups were predecessors to the current Campus Diversity Plan Oversight Committee.

Durand was the campus coordinator of the Ethnic Studies requirement when she chaired the College of Letters and Science Curriculum Committee in 1987-89.

Chancellor John Wiley presented Durand with a special recognition award May 7 in honor of her outstanding leadership in the area of campus diversity.

In addition, Durand is on the leadership team of the NSF-sponsored Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute, which works to enhance the advancement of women in science and to measure the success of such efforts.

Durand has served in a number of other campus leadership positions. She is the current chair of the Athletic Board and chaired the University Committee, the executive committee of the Faculty Senate, from 1999 to 2000. She also chaired the search committee for the UW–Madison chancellor in 2000.

“I have learned how much this campus can accomplish through shared governance and hope to apply those lessons to our diversity and climate goals,” she says. “One person can’t do it all and it will take everyone’s effort.”

Durand, a theoretical physicist who specializes in particle theory and mathematical physics, will continue some of her teaching activities while serving as associate vice chancellor for diversity and climate.

In the provost’s office, associate vice chancellors are selected from among the UW–Madison faculty to provide leadership in academic affairs. They typically serve part time for three to five years.