Welcoming our New Vice President for Inclusion, Diversity and Engagement
Dear Lumberjacks,
I am pleased to share that Dr. Justin Mallett will join our Lumberjack community as Vice President for Inclusion, Diversity, and Engagement (VP IDE), beginning June 1.
Dr. Mallett joins us from Northwest Missouri State University, where he is the assistant vice president of Diversity and Inclusion, serving as a liaison for students and employees from historically underrepresented identities on topics related to recruitment and retention, leadership development, and cultural competency. He also serves as an advisor to the President on all issues related to diversity and inclusion at the institution.
With this portfolio of experience and a deep commitment to and understanding of NAU’s mission, vision, and strategic context, Justin emerged from a strong field of finalists. As VP IDE, he will oversee universitywide initiatives in support of our strategic roadmap, with an emphasis on advancing our strategic priority of Mission Driven and Diverse Faculty and Staff; lead the Center for University Access and Inclusion; convene the Diversity Fellows and Diversity Commissions; and serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet to partner with all divisions and units as we redouble our efforts to build an inclusive university community that supports students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds and lived experiences to excel and reach their full potential.
I am deeply appreciative of the work of our Vice President for Inclusion, Diversity, and Engagement search committee, who worked diligently since early last fall to vet a talented pool of candidates for this crucial role. In addition, I am grateful for the thoughtful engagement and feedback of a broad cross-section of our university community throughout the finalist visits, which helped inform our decision.
“The high level of engagement from faculty, staff, and students throughout this process indicates how important this role is for NAU,” said Josh Mackey, vice president for Human Resources and search committee chair. “Dr. Mallett stood out from a very strong pool of candidates and demonstrated clearly how his background and experiences are aligned with NAU’s priorities to advance inclusion, diversity, and engagement in all of our work. He consistently conveyed an understanding of how this work intersects among faculty, staff, students, and community members and I’m thrilled to be able to welcome him to NAU.”
“I am very excited to join the team at Northern Arizona University,” said Dr. Mallett. “My passion for enhancing and fostering an inclusive campus community is not just a personal passion of mine, but it also is what drives my professional goals as well. I believe that our students, faculty, and staff deserve the opportunity to learn, work, and grow in an inclusive environment where diversity of all kinds is welcomed, valued, and respected. I am looking forward to working with students, employees, and the Flagstaff community to elevate the excellence of NAU.”
Dr. Mallett graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a master’s degree in Communications and a bachelor’s degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations, and he received his doctoral degree from Edgewood College in Madison, WI. He is a member of the Transformation Accelerator Cohort Advisory Committee with American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), serves as Vice President of programming for the Missouri Association of Black People in Higher Education, and is a member of the Missouri Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. Dr. Mallett also was a member of the latest cohort of AASCU’s Becoming a Provost Academy.
Please join me in welcoming Justin Mallett and his family to Northern Arizona University!
In partnership,
José Luis Cruz Rivera
President