O. Gilbert Brown
Photos courtesy MSU
The Missouri State University Board of Governors today is scheduled to approve $240,000 in diversity promotions in the wake of the resignation of the school’s first black vice president amid discrimination allegations.
With board approval, H. Wes Pratt would take on the role of assistant to the president and chief diversity officer, and O. Gilbert Brown would become associate provost for diversity. Both would be paid $120,000 annually for the appointments slated to last 18 months, according to the
board’s agenda. The actions were announced in a news release earlier this month.
When Ken Coopwood was named MSU’s first permanent vice president for diversity and inclusion in 2011, Pratt took on responsibilities as equal opportunity officer and director of the office for institutional equity and compliance.
In his 18-month temporary role, Pratt will serve as the head of the school’s office of diversity and inclusion. Brown, an associate dean of the MSU College of Education, would oversee the recruitment of retention of diverse faculty and help academic units achieve diversity goals.
“You will manage the office of diversity and inclusion, including all initiatives and programs which it is responsible for, actively promote diversity within our community and state, and other duties as assigned by me,” MSU President Clif Smart wrote in a letter to Pratt offering the job, which is included in the board’s agenda.
Early this month,
Coopwood announced his resignation, effective April 30, less than a week after independent investigators found “no credible evidence” of discrimination against him. MSU retained law firm Ellis, Ellis, Hammons & Johnson PC was in December to investigate petition claims Coopwood was subjected to discrimination.
This fall, MSU plans to form a search committee charged with finding a permanent vice president for diversity and inclusion to be put in place by July 1, 2017.
