FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas administrator and faculty member Ro Di Brezzo has received a one-year appointment as interim vice provost for diversity and inclusion, effective July 1. She will continue to serve in her current position as vice provost for faculty development and enhancement.

The search for a permanent vice provost for diversity and inclusion will begin by the middle of the fall semester and a final decision will be made after a new provost has been chosen.

“Ro Di Brezzo is the perfect person to fill this position on an interim basis,” said Ashok Saxena, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “She is already doing outstanding work with our faculty and will be able to extend our diversity efforts to them, while also engaging with U of A staff to continue working to create the most inclusive campus community possible.”

The new vice provost position was created as part of an administrative realignment last spring. The vice provost for diversity and inclusion will focus on being a resource for and enhancing engagement with faculty and staff; and increasing the academic study of diversity while building a more inclusive campus community. The vice provost will coordinate diversity initiatives and facilitate education and training sessions.

Di Brezzo joined the U of A faculty in 1983 as assistant professor of physical education. Since then, she has served as program chair and interim department head for the Department of Kinesiology, director of the Human Performance Laboratory, and co-director of the Office for Studies on Aging. In 1992, she co-founded the Teaching and Faculty Support Center. From 2012-2013, she served as vice provost for academic affairs. In addition to her vice provost duties she is also a university professor in exercise science.

“I am honored to be asked to be interim vice provost, I am so very passionate about inclusion and diversity,” said Di Brezzo. “Some of my new responsibilities should fit seamlessly under faculty development. But I am also excited about learning from our entire campus community as this new initiative takes form and structure.”