Yvette Murphy-Erby will step down from her role as vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion to return to the faculty of the School of Social Work in Fulbright College on Dec. 31.  

“Advancing in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion is central to our academic mission; the success of all students, staff and faculty; and to our responsibility as a land-grant institution and top tier research university,” Murphy-Erby said. “It has been a joy leading this critical work, and I credit the engagement and collective efforts of many across our campus and in our community for the advances we’ve attained together the past five years.”  

Murphy-Erby has led the Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion since 2017. She is also a professor of social work and has served in other leadership positions across the campus including two separate terms as the director for the School of Social Work, associate dean for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, interim director for the African and African American Studies Program and vice provost for the Office for Diversity and Inclusion. Murphy-Erby conceptualized the IDEALS Institute and oversaw its implementation in 2019.   

“I’d like to thank Yvette for her leadership,” said Charles Robinson, interim chancellor. “She has been a valued member of the community and a steadfast advocate for greater inclusion and belonging for our entire campus.”   

Murphy-Erby is an accomplished scholar and leader/administrator and in collaboration with colleagues, has received over $17 million in external funding awards from federal grantors such as NIH, NSF, HRSA and from state government and foundations. She has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and co-authored the first book on the intersectionality of race, class and gender published in her discipline. She has expertise in building teams and engaging communities.    

Angela Mosley-Monts, currently serving as associate vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion, will step into the interim vice chancellor role as a national search gets underway. The interim appointment will begin on Jan. 1, 2023. She was appointed associate vice chancellor in 2021 after serving as assistant vice chancellor since 2018.   

“I look forward to stepping into the interim vice chancellor role,” Mosley-Monts said. “I see this role as an opportunity to continue to build on the DEI foundation and strategies established by Dr. Murphy-Erby for the university, working with IDEALS and the Northwest Arkansas Region. As the university moves towards being an Employer of Choice while continuing to support student success and advancing research, I see DEI making a significant collective impact. Also, I see DEI as a cornerstone as we continue our strategies as a belonging, welcoming and mattering campus.” 

As associate vice chancellor, Mosley-Monts focused on acting as the primary registered students’ organization adviser for the Black Students Association and the Black Alumni Society Scholars. She is the co-primary adviser for the Black Graduate Students Association. She also supports diversity, equity and inclusion societies including the Black Alumni Society, Latino Alumni Society, Armed Forces Alumni Society and the PRIDE Alumni Society. In overseeing the societies, she has raised $325,000 in endowments, private scholarships and sponsorships since joining the university.  

She also coordinated the efforts and programming for the following U of A Employee Impact Groups: Armed Forces, Asian Pacific Americans, Black, Disability, Latinx, Lavender, Indigenous/Native and International. An additional Parent Employee Impact Group is now being formed.  

“Under the leadership of Dr. Mosley-Monts, I know our campus will continue to advance in positive ways,” Murphy-Erby said. 

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.