UofSC’s chief diversity officer accepts position at MIT
Posted on: February 12, 2020; Updated on: February 12, 2020
By Jeff Stensland, stenslan@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-3686
John H. Dozier, the University of South Carolina’s inaugural chief diversity officer, has accepted a new position leading the Institute Community and Equity Office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Since arriving at UofSC in 2013, Dozier, who also serves as senior associate provost for inclusion, has been responsible for leading diversity and inclusion efforts on campus and also has guided the university’s community engagement outreach. His office has led and created programs and opportunities for the university and the community to come together and address the changing cultural landscape, including the university’s first Board of Trustees-approved equity and inclusion plan; the university’s first campus-wide climate survey; the Council of Academic Diversity Officers; the S.C. Collaborative for Race and Reconciliation, which houses the Welcome Table SC, the Equity Summit and the South Carolina Youth Collective; and, the Finding Common Ground series. In addition, Dozier helped lead the effort to permanently recognize the role of enslaved people in building the Columbia campus.
“John Dozier has been an outstanding director of diversity, inclusion and equity. He created an atmosphere of inclusion on this campus, and leaves a legacy known by the values of dignity and respect he instilled in all of us,” said UofSC President Bob Caslen. “If you want to see an epitome of our Carolinian Creed, look at John. We are all grateful for his dedicated service and wish him great success — MIT is lucky to have him. He’ll always be a Gamecock to us.”
The university is in the final stages of a national search for a vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, a new position responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to enhance and build a diverse and inclusive campus. Finalists for the position have been on campus this month for interviews.
At MIT, Dozier will serve as the Institute Community and Equity Officer, described as a “thought leader on the subjects of community, equity, inclusion and diversity; a focal point for organizing MIT’s related activities and conversations; and a hands-on practitioner who disseminates best practices and inspires the awareness and enthusiasm to help them flourish.” The position reports to the MIT provost.
Prior to his arrival at the University of South Carolina, Dozier served as the vice president of academic and student affairs, chief information officer and ultimately president in the Chicago community college system. He is a graduate of South Carolina State University and holds a master of business administration and doctor of education degrees from DePaul University in Chicago.
“I cannot thank the university community enough for your support of our efforts to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive campus community,” Dozier said. “We have done important work — laying a foundation for the work that remains to be done for us to reflect, in all ways, our values. Thanks also for your support of me, Victoria (’91 BS mechanical engineering) and our family. Carolina will always be home.”
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