Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, has appointed Lena Hill Dean of the College. Her last day at the University of Iowa will be May 25.

University of Iowa President J. Bruce Harreld appointed Hill to serve as Iowa’s interim chief diversity officer in July of 2017 when Georgina Dodge became associate provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.

“Lena has worked tirelessly over the past year, urging us to survey our campus and truly reflect on our weaknesses and bringing the campus together to engage in conversations in order to improve,” says Harreld.

Hill came to the UI in 2006 and received tenure in 2013. She is a faculty member in English and African American studies and serves as the senior associate to the president. She and her husband, Michael, UI associate professor of English, co-edited Invisible Hawkeyes: African Americans at the University of Iowa During the Long Civil Rights Era.

“The Hills introduced a new generation of students to important members of our Hawkeye family,” says Harreld. “They have graciously shared their time and knowledge with students, faculty, and staff inside and outside of the classroom, making this a more welcoming place. We are sorry to lose them but excited for their new opportunity.”

Harreld has asked Melissa Shivers, vice president for student life, to serve as interim chief diversity officer until the university can begin a national search later this spring or early summer.

“Melissa has been a tremendous advocate for our students and worked closely with Lena to ensure underrepresented and historically marginalized students have a strong voice as we review programming and consider improvements,” says Harreld. “Throughout Melissa’s 21-year career in higher education as a student affairs scholar-practitioner, 13 years of her efforts were focused on diversity, inclusion, and social justice work, for which she remains committed in her role as vice president for student life. I’m confident she can provide similar support for faculty and staff during the interim.”

Shivers joined the UI in June 2017 after previously serving as associate vice chancellor for student life and dean of students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has a Bachelor of Science in communication arts with an emphasis in broadcast journalism from Georgia Southern University, a master’s degree in education from Clemson University, and a PhD in college student affairs administration from the University of Georgia.

“I have been grateful for the support I’ve received during my first year and for the work Lena and her team have done to put us on a path toward success. I am eager to work with the Chief Diversity Office staff and our campus community to continue advancing ‘excellence through diversity,’” says Shivers.