Three University of Arkansas employees were appointed to the Arkansas Advisory Committee for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to provide counsel and guidance on diversity, equity and inclusion-related issues.

The commission appointed Cynthia Nance, dean emeritus and Nathan G. Gordon Professor of Law; Danielle Weatherby, associate professor of law; and Danielle L. Williams, assistant vice chancellor and director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance to four-year terms, beginning last month.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency established by Congress in 1957 to focus on matters of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability or national origin. Its focus includes investigating voting rights complaints from citizens, researching discrimination or denials of equal protection under the law, and submitting reports and recommendations to the President and Congress, among other duties.

The commission established advisory committees in each state and the District of Columbia to inform the commission on civil rights issues of state and national concern.

"These three women were clearly selected for their expertise, their advocacy, and their passion for equality and civil rights," said Chancellor Joe Steinmetz. "We are pleased by their selection to this important committee and know they will represent the campus and the state of Arkansas extraordinarily well."

A full list of appointees can be found on the commission website.