Equity Advocate Program
Equity advocates are employees that serve as consultants, resources and advisors to search committees. Their roles are designed to enhance the process by which we attract and engage with prospective candidates.
Recruitment & Hiring Inclusive Excellence Statement
SUNY Plattsburgh values, and is committed to, the range of human experiences that represent our prospective employees. SUNY Plattsburgh affirms that when our recruitment and hiring procedures intentionally provide equal access and opportunity to employment for candidates from all identities, we make inclusion excellent. The university believes that search committees play a pivotal role in sourcing, recruiting, assessing, and recommending the most qualified and diverse candidates for employment. Search committees are one of SUNY Plattsburgh’s most valuable assets. They are the body that represents the university to prospective employees.
About the Equity Advocate Program
- Importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education
Diversity: Diversity includes the range of human experiences and refers to the visible and invisible forms of identity and intersectionality that human beings experience.
Equality: The uniform distribution of a good or service to everyone in equal amounts no matter what the distribution and regardless of the individual and circumstances.
Equity: An intentional and deliberate stance to provide a fair distribution of goods and services to individuals based upon need. Equity recognizes that not everyone starts from the same place, and focuses on the restoration of justice by addressing imbalances and the lack of access and opportunity.
Inclusion: The practice or policy of providing equal access to information, resources, and opportunities to all people, especially those who might otherwise be historically or presently excluded or marginalized. Words, actions and physical representations that promote belonging and a welcoming environment to all.
- Roles & Responsibilities of the Equity Advocate
Equity advocates work closely with the hiring authority, search committee chair, affirmative action officer and Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to advocate for principles and practices related to diversity, inclusion and equity throughout the search. Equity advocates are encouraged to use an equity lens to think critically about ways that institutional and structural practices impact vulnerable populations. This lens is pivotal in disrupting biases and misuses of power that often manifest during the hiring process.
Roles
- Equity advocates (EAs) can be nominated by a university community member or they can be self-nominated. Once trained, and after outreach has occurred with division leadership or directors, equity advocates are assigned to searches to facilitate effective, and equal access and opportunity for all candidates for the search committee.
- Those making the selection should consider the following:
- State employees (faculty or staff, classified or unclassified),
- Good listening, communication, and conflict resolution skills,
- Availability to be a resource to search committees and hiring authorities,
- Informed about equity-related policies, procedures, and campus resources, and
- Exhibit an ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion to diversify the campus workforce.
- The equity advocate is appointed to their role as the “Authorization to Recruit” moves through the approval process. This occurs alongside the finalization of the search committee membership.
- The equity advocate’s membership should facilitate an odd number of members on the search committee.
- Equity advocates are full, voting members of search committees.
- Equity advocates are mandatory members of search committees for UUP and M/C positions at SUNY Plattsburgh. The role is optional, and encouraged for all other searches.
- Equity advocates serve on search committees associated with vacancies in schools, departments and divisions in which they are not a member, pending availability.
- Equity advocates serve a maximum three-year term but can assume the role for additional terms as long as they participate in ongoing training/recertification and professional development.
- Through specialized training and workshops, equity advocates gain useful information and skills that allow them to understand local, national and global issues and trends that impact the workforce.
Responsibilities
- Equity advocates must attend an initial training with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Affirmative Action.
- Prior to serving on search committees, EAs must complete required professional development
that includes:
- Understanding and avoiding unconscious bias in the hiring process
- Labor market discrimination and its impact
- Understanding microaggressions
- Interviewing diverse candidates
- Equity advocates play a pivotal role in addressing issues of inequity, perceived bias, and microaggressions that may impact search committees. Follow-up is always encouraged with the hiring authority, affirmative action officer, and/or the vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
- Equity advocates will have access to ongoing professional development and training.
- Equity advocates assist in providing feedback to ensure continuous quality improvement to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
- Active Equity Advocate Roster
First Name Last Name Department/Office Gray Adkins ACE Program Mary Alldred Earth & Environmental Science Kathryn (Katie) Alton Education Mahmoud Aly Biological Sciences Nana Ankrah Biological Sciences Fredrica “Freddy” Appau-Wemette Campus Housing & Community Living Hakima Bachar Sponsored Research & Programs Paula Bachman Institutional Advancement Tonya Baker Admissions – Undergraduate Kenneth Baldwin Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Margaret Baranoff Library (Feinberg) Darren Barcomb University Police Suzanna (Sue) Bartlett Academic Affairs Joshua Beatty Library (Feinberg) Kelley Beauharnois Budget & Financial Reporting Services Jenna Beauregard Procurement Services Christina Bedard University Police Liza Bedard Center for the Study of Canada Elizabeth Bernat Academic Advising Jennifer Bleaux Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Kayla Boise Admissions – Undergraduate Michelle Bonati Education Gina Bond Institutional Advancement Alyssa Bordeau Human Resource & Payroll Services Benjamin Boyea School of Business & Economics Lindsey Bradley Library (Feinberg) Wendy Braje Psychology Devin Brassard Admissions – Undergraduate Aubrey Bresett Institutional Advancement Antoinette “Nettie” Cambria Counselor Education Erin Campbell Institutional Effectiveness Michael Caraballo Emergency Management Vincent Carey History Bruce Carlin Communication Studies Ray Carman Political Science Wanda Carroll Supply Chain Management & International Business Chris Chamars Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Kerry Chapin-Lavigne Institutional Advancement Laci Charette Psychology Sarah Charles Nursing Suzannah Chatlos Psychology Andrew Christy Psychology Julie Coon Upward Bound Wendy Coons Academic Advising & Learning Center Morgan Coons Student Financial Services Christa Covel-Reyell Journalism & Public Relations Tonya Cribb Art Museum Dexter Criss Chemistry & Biochemistry Laura Cronk Accessibility Resources Office Sarah Cunningham Departmetn of Marketing Jennifer Curry Accessibility Resources Office Rachel Day School of Education, Health & Human Services Cassandra Day Campus Housing & Community Living Jesse Decosse Student Financial Services Shonna DeCoste Upward Bound Alison “Ali” Della Bitta Art Ilhan Demirer Management, Information Systems & Analytics Julia Devine Theatre Nikki Deyo-Pugh Campus Housing & Community Living Gabrielle Dion Accessibility Resources Office Gerianne Downs Department of Marketing Hannah Downs Department of Marketing Rebecca Drollette Library (Feinberg) Lauren Dube University Police Steven Dube University Police Kathleen Duffy Admissions – Undergraduate Elizabeth Dupre Administration & Finance Karrie Durkee Procurement Services Ashley Durocher Student Support Services Kailah Easton Upward Bound Taj Ellis Educational Opportunity Program Sarah Erno Global Education Office Autumn Esposito Accessibility Resources Office Jessica Facteau University Police Carter Frechette University Police Melanie Frechette Institutional Advancement Thomas Friedrich English Katherine “Kate” Friedrich Global Education Office Felicity Frinsel Psychology Mohamed Gaber Accounting (Academic) Ashley Gambino Communication Sciences & Disorders Cameron Garceau University Police Megan Garvey Admissions – Undergraduate Christine Gero Student Financial Services Amy Gervich Education Curt Gervich Earth & Environmental Science Alyssa Gleichsner Biological Sciences Andrew “Drew” Goerlitz Art Jamel Golden Admissions – Undergraduate Lauren Gonyea Student Support Services Travis Gorham Accessibility Resources Office Bernie Grabczewski Information Technology Services Cherice Granger President's Office David Gregoire Institutional Advancement Tracie Guzzio Honors Program Bridget Haina Communication Studies Kimberly Hall-Stone Art Anne Hansen Institutional Advancement Tyler Hargraves Center for Student Involvement Delbert Hart Computer Science Heather Haskins Chief of Staff Tobi Hay Career Development Center Holly Heller-Ross Library (Feinberg) Morgan Hicks Admissions – Graduate Emily Hoeh Education Marisa Hoogkamp Student Financial Services Kim Irland Title IX Kirsten Isgro Communication Studies Kara Jefts Art Museum Diane Jennette-Costin Academic Advising & Learning Center Ryan Jones Admissions – Undergraduate Troy Joseph Admissions – Undergraduate Cheryl Kabeli Nursing Robert Keever Mathematics Karin Killough Learning Center Lolita Kincade Human Development & Family Relations Kylie King Institutional Effectiveness Tiffany Kirk Facilities, Maintenance & Operations Rosy Knowles Budget & Financial Reporting Services Felicia Krieg Department of Marketing Gary Kroll History Holly Kusalonis Adventure & Expeditionary Studies Eric Laessig Customer & Classroom Support Services (ITS) Lyndsey Lafountain Enrollment & Student Success Daniel Lake Political Science Andy Lang Global Education Office Conrad LaVarnway University Police Megan Lawless Education Brooke Layhee Institutional Advancement Paul Leduc Institutional Advancement Jason Lee Accounting (Academic) Beth Leibensperger Institutional Advancement Regan Levitte Learning Center Shatawndra Lister Special Programs Ashleigh Livingston Institutional Advancement John Locke Instruction and Program Innovation Maxim “Max” Longware Upward Bound Jessica "Jess" Loveless Department of Marketing Justin Lowry Anthropology Kerry Lubold Student Financial Services Jim Lucas Enterprise Systems & Solutions (ITS) Amelia Lushia School of Business & Economics Crystal Lytle Library (Feinberg) Levi Martinez Institutional Effectiveness Jennifer "Jen” Matott Theatre/Music Kevin McCullen Computer Science Alyssa McGovern Customer & Classroom Support Services (ITS) Joanne McGovern Academic Advising Megan McGreevy Academic Advising John McMahon Political Science Shawna Mefferd Kelty Theatre Peter Meuser Customer & Classroom Support Services (ITS) Todd Moravec Student Financial Services Glenn Morello Chemistry & Biochemistry Hunter Mossey Department of Marketing Amy Mountcastle Anthropology Sara Munson ACE Program Karen Naaman Accounting (Academic) Shannon Nephew School of Arts & Sciences Brian Neureuther School of Business & Economics Elizabeth Onasch Sociology Elaine Ostry English Michelle Ouellette Journalism & Public Relations Connie Oxford Gender and Women’s Studies Joel Parker Biological Sciences John Parmelee Management, Information Systems & Analytics Nancy Parri Chemistry & Biochemistry Priyanka Patel Human Development & Family Relations Meg Pearson School of Arts & Sciences Natalie Peck Institutional Advancement Michelle Pelkey School of Business & Economics Morgan Pellerin Career Development Center Trisha Pellerin Campus Housing & Community Living Michelle Peter SUNY Plattsburgh at Queensbury Erin Peters Admissions – Undergraduate Anne Petro Mathematics Erich Pflanz University Police Chris Picaro Admissions – Undergraduate Kelley Pickreign Academic Advising Jamar Pickreign School of Education, Health & Human Services Ken Podolak Physics Ayla Poovey Library (Feinberg) Brian Post Upward Bound Alison Puliatte Education Rohit Rampal Management, Information Systems & Analytics Shakuntala Rao Communication Studies Sara Ratliff School of Business & Economics Robert Reams Mathematics Zachary Reese University Police Eli Remillard Registrar Magen Renadette Administration & Finance Sandra Rezac Sociology Sarah Richard Institutional Advancement Michaela Rife Art Maryssa Romeo Admissions – Undergraduate Christopher Ryan School of Education, Health, & Human Services Amy Ryan Biological Sciences Preeti Samudra Psychology Jessica “Jess” Santos Educational Opportunity Program Connie Shemo History Denise Simard School of Education, Health, & Human Services Virginia Siskavich-Bosley Department of Marketing Maureen Squires Education Michelle St. Onge Admissions – Graduate Kristie Stanton Library (Feinberg) Rajesh Sunasee Chemistry & Biochemistry Norman Taber Art Kelly Theisen Chemistry & Biochemistry Malina Thiede Library (Feinberg) Michael Thompson Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lee Thorpe Sociology Michelle Toth Library (Feinberg) Michelle Trombley Human Resource & Payroll Services Trisha Trombly Human Resource & Payroll Services Marcus Tye Academic Affairs Luke Tyrrell Biological Sciences Sally Urban Career Development Center Megan Valentine Biological Sciences Terrance Vance Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Evelyn Vicencio Institutional Advancement Karen Volkman Library (Feinberg) Emma Volks SUNY Plattsburgh at Queensbury Joshua Weiss Library (Feinberg) Steffaney Wilcox Upward Bound Jamie Winters School of Arts & Sciences Carrie Woodward Admissions – Graduate Ben Wright Theatre Nathaniel Yeager University Police Yong Yu Education Chunnan Zhang Accounting (Academic) Eric Zielinski University Police