Office of Diversity and Inclusion promotes Friday, appoints Kantamneni

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Office of Diversity and Inclusion promotes Friday, appoints Kantamneni

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion announced new roles for Nkenge Friday (left) and Neeta Kantamneni.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion announced new roles for Nkenge Friday (left) and Neeta Kantamneni.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion recently made key personnel changes.

Nkenge Friday has been promoted to senior assistant vice chancellor for strategic initiatives. The new title, effective July 15, reflects increased job responsibilities and overarching role in managing the operations of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Neeta Kantamneni joined the Office of Diversity and Inclusion as the director of faculty engagement and well-being on Aug. 1.

The position is a two-year, halftime appointment that reports to the vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion.

In this role, Kantamneni serves as a leader in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and fulfills the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence by:

  • Collaborating with co-director Gwen Combs and other key offices on issues related to climate, culture and eliminating institutional barriers to inclusive excellence;
  • Developing and building resources on promising diversity, equity and inclusion practices and tools for supporting and retaining marginalized and underrepresented faculty; and
  • Partnering with centers, colleges and departments to identify and develop projects and partnerships that bolster faculty and academic inclusive excellence in teaching, research and service

Kantamneni is an Alan T. Seagren Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology in the College of Education and Human Sciences. In her faculty role, she is director of clinical training and program director of the counseling psychology program.

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