Juniata College recently issued the following announcement.
After an extensive national search, Juniata College has hired Crystal Sellers Battle, DMA, as Dean of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Dr. Sellers Battle begins in her role on Aug. 16, 2021, and will serve as the senior diversity officer of the College, responsible for continuing to build, operationalize, and integrate efforts that support and enhance equity and inclusivity in the College’s learning environment and community.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Dr. Sellers Battle and her family to the Juniata community,” said Juniata College President James A. Troha. “She brings a unique perspective to this position with experience as both a faculty member and college administrator. Furthermore, she has an exceptional and visible commitment to diversity and inclusion work that will positively advance this work for our community.”
As a member of the Juniata’s Senior Leadership Team, Sellers Battle will work closely with Juniata’s faculty and administration in advancing its strategic priority of growing, naturing, and supporting an inclusive, engaged, and vibrant community.
“I look forward to working in partnership with Dr. Sellers Battle to advance the goals of equity and inclusion in the curriculum and classroom,” said Lauren Bowen, Juniata’s Provost and senior academic officer. “The faculty of Juniata are eager to draw upon the expertise Dr. Sellers Battle provides and the ways she will help strengthen our commitment to inclusive excellence in how and what we teach.”
Sellers Battle most recently held the role of professor and chair of the Department of Music at Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio. As an accomplished vocalist and musician, she has incorporated her considerable knowledge as a musician and music educator into her vision of meaningful diversity and inclusion work.
"I am excited to begin the all-encompassing, yet rewarding work of EDI at Juniata. The passion and commitment shown during my time on campus show that this community is ready and eager to be engaged in this work." Crystal Sellers Battle, DMA
"I am excited to begin the all-encompassing, yet rewarding work of EDI at Juniata,” said Sellers Battle. “The passion and commitment shown during my time on campus show that this community is ready and eager to be engaged in this work."
She founded DIEMA (Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in Musical Arts) Consulting Group and has been asked to consult and present at several national venues. Sellers Battle is also the Founding Director of Project HOME (Hope, Opportunity, Mentorship, and Education) at Bluffton University and chaired the university's anti-racism taskforce.
“Crystal’s energy and passion for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) work, along with her experience in creatively building EDI programming will be an incredible asset to Juniata,” said Juniata’s executive director and chief human resources officer, Tracy L. Stough Grajewski ’86, who co-chaired the search committee that brought Sellers Battle to Juniata. “We are delighted to have her entrepreneurial spirit input to student success, as well as programming related to the recruitment, development, and retention of faculty and staff.”
The co-chair of the search committee, Calvin Bembry ‘19, MBA ’21, and Student Life professional agreed.
“Crystal will build positive momentum with students, faculty, and staff in our EDI efforts,” he said. “She will be a uniting force during a time of significant cultural change in our nation.”
Juniata welcomes students from nearly 40 different countries and states, while continuing to increase the percentage of traditionally underrepresented domestic students. Nearly a third of Juniata students are the first in their family to go to college.
Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.
Original source: https://www.juniata.edu/about/news/archive.php?action=SHOWARTICLE&id=6986
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