FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In another “Students First” move the University of Arkansas Multicultural Center will now be aligned with the vice provost for diversity.

As part of the universitywide efforts to enhance diversity, the Multicultural Center, which was part of both the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, will now align with the vice provost.

Cedric Kenner, director of the Multicultural Center, is excited by the opportunities that lie ahead in this reporting structure.

“I have had the great opportunity of working with individuals who are very passionate about inclusion and diversity at the University of Arkansas. They have had a tremendous influence on the vision and mission of the Multicultural Center. Under their leadership the Multicultural Center has been very successful in our programmatic efforts. However, taking on new initiatives can provide our program with an exciting new approach and direction,” Kenner said. “The staff of the Multicultural Center looks forward to working with Dr. Charles Robinson. His substantive strategies and programs based on diversity dialogue will give us a new and refreshing vision for our future.”

The university embarked on a philosophical shift in its efforts to foster multiculturalism on campus through the appointment of Charles Robinson, associate professor of history and director of the African American studies program, as vice provost for diversity in March. Robinson took over the post on July 1.

“One of our goals at the University of Arkansas is to enhance diversity by attracting more students, faculty and staff from underrepresented populations and by nurturing intercultural understanding inside and outside the classroom. This new alignment of the Multicultural Center with the vice provost for diversity will help us make strides toward that goal,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart.

“This new alignment should help to enhance the role of the Multicultural Center to best meet the needs of our diverse student body. The Multicultural Center can also help to increase the diversity of students on campus,” said Sharon Gaber, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Robinson also looks forward to the work at hand.

“I'm excited about the realignment of the Multicultural Center with the office of diversity,” Robinson said. “The center does some very good work with regard to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students, and I look forward to coordinating our efforts to best effect positive change. The realignment will also afford Cedric Kenner and his staff the opportunity to consider new and different approaches to cultivating greater appreciation for diversity on our campus.”