Liz Means, access coordinator of assistive technology in the Center for Educational Access at the University of Arkansas, has been named the university's new Title IX coordinator, effective March 2.

Means will lead the university's Title IX Office, which oversees compliance with the federal law through investigations as well as outreach, training and resources to the campus community to promote reporting and prevention programs.

Means will also oversee six volunteer deputy Title IX coordinators, an investigator and a student advisory board. She will report to Laura Jacobs, the associate vice chancellor and chief of staff, and her office will be in the Administration Building.

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law prohibiting any form of gender discrimination, such as sexual assault or misconduct, sexual harassment, domestic or dating violence, stalking and discrimination based on pregnancy, among others. The law requires that a university review and respond to any reported incidents.

"Liz's experience with Title IX and other compliance mandates, policies and procedures, combined with her background as a counselor and therapist, make her the perfect fit to lead our efforts providing fair and equitable treatment to our campus under Title IX," Jacobs said. "I look forward to her work continuing to advance the U of A's commitment to foster an educational environment where all students can be successful." 

Means has served as a deputy Title IX coordinator in her current role, in addition to previously serving as the Title IX coordinator for the University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences. While at UAMS, she established the first centralized office for students reporting Title IX policy violations and developed policies, procedures, educational materials and resources for Title IX requirements and policy implementation.

She also previously served as the director of university testing and disability services at Arkansas Tech University, in addition to roles as a therapist and counselor.

"I'm both excited and honored to have been chosen to be the Title IX coordinator," Means said. "It's very rewarding to know what a positive difference it can make in peoples' lives when they have continued access to learning in a safe and respectful community. Like so many others, I'm drawn to this important work because of my desire to assist individuals and eliminate barriers to education. A good Title IX coordinator must be compassionate yet fair and impartial, qualities that I have embraced and will continue to embrace in my work."

Means earned her bachelor's degree in rehabilitation science from Arkansas Tech University and her master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Arkansas. She replaces Tyler Farrar, who stepped down in January to assume the position of associate vice president and general counsel at Arkansas Colleges of Health Education.