Syracuse appoints Alford as school’s first chief diversity and inclusion officer

Alford’s appointment fulfills a “key priority” of the Chancellor Kent Syverud’s workgroup on diversity and inclusion, which, in 2016, “delivered wide-ranging recommendations aimed at creating a more welcoming, respectful campus climate,” the school said in its news release.

“In his capacity as interim chief diversity officer, Keith has exceeded expectations, serving as both a leader and a bridge, bringing together diverse groups and viewpoints in constructive dialogue that has produced action,” Syverud said in the news release. “I am grateful that the search committee diligently considered a strong lineup of candidates, and I am delighted that they found the most impressive candidate to be the person already doing the job in an innovative and effective way.”

As chief diversity and inclusion officer, Alford reports directly to Syverud and serves on the chancellor’s executive team. He also provides “executive leadership, oversight and vision” in the administration of services, programs, policies, and procedures related to “advancing Syracuse University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion,” per the news release.

As chief diversity and inclusion officer, Alford will also work to centralize diversity and inclusion efforts in partnership with the University’s 13 schools and colleges; “work to curate resources and expertise for the University to use to develop a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible environment; and develop and collaborate to create educational opportunities on diversity, inclusion and equity,” per the news release.

Alford will also lead the implementation of a University-wide plan for diversity and inclusion that will “provide students with an education informed by multiple points of view, life experiences, abilities, ethnicities, cultures and belief systems.”

“Diversity requires inclusion, which means actively acknowledging, incorporating, engaging and facilitating participation from all groups,” Alford said in the news release. “Targeted university endeavors from all divisional operations are strengthened when diversity and inclusion are given credence and fully embraced. Certainly, at Syracuse University, one’s commitment to excellence must be strong — ensuring a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible campus environment for all. Positive coexistence leads to rich collaboration, cooperation and camaraderie. The more we increase campus diversity on a number of fronts, the more educational advantages increase for everyone associated with campus life. I’m honored to serve in this capacity.”

In addition to his new role, Alford has also served as associate professor and chair of the Falk College’s School of Social Work. Alford’s areas of specialization include mental-health service delivery to children and families; culturally specific programming for children in out-of-home care; and contemporary rites of passage programming and loss/grief reactions among African American families, Syracuse said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com