Office of Faculty Diversity

Beth McGee

When Beth McGee saw an opening in the theatre department at Case, she had a feeling she would get the job. However, she had no idea that after more than a decade of teaching she would accept another title at Case: Faculty Diversity Officer.

McGee joined Case's faculty in 1988, and during the first 6 years of her career here, she concerned herself with obtaining tenure. Once this was secured, she felt free to explore activities and issues on campus, particularly women's issues. Over time, she became involved with the President's Commission on Undergraduate Education and Life (PCUEL). PCUEL was charged in 1999 to make bold recommendations to improve undergraduate education and life at Case. Some of those recommendations resulted in the building of the Village at 115, and the creation of SAGES. At the same time, the President's Advisory Commission on Women (PACW) was recommending the creation of a new position in the Office of Equal Opportunity, that of Faculty Diversity Officer. Others encouraged McGee to apply for the position, and in January of 2002, she became Case's first Faculty Diversity Officer.

Because the Faculty Diversity Office was new, McGee had to innovate her position. She read books, attended conferences, and visited other universities to assemble the responsibilities of her office. Her job has many facets. She is the Affirmative Action Officer for the faculty, so she checks every faculty hire to make sure that the proper federal guidelines about the search process have been followed. Complaints about sexual harassment and discrimination pass through her office. She mediates problems that a faculty member feels his or her department chair or dean has not adequately addressed. Additionally, she creates diversity initiatives for faculty and gives presentations to faculty and students on diversity or gender issues.

The charge of the Faculty Diversity Officer may have a broad range, but since its creation, McGee feels there has been progress. "Culture change is a really, really slow change," she shared. "Diversity in general is a long road." In the few years that the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity and ACES have existed, McGee has seen a gradual increase of diversity in applicants and hired faculty.

As McGee returns to teaching voice full-time in July of 2008, she will always be remembered for her dedication as the inaugural Faculty Diversity Officer. She leaves with the follwoing quote - "You're standing on the shoulders of others, and others will stand on your shoulders. The battle's not over, and that's okay because the battle should be fought."

Article and interview by Casey Hicks.

To visit Beth McGee's website, click this link.