DAHLONEGA — President Bonita C. Jacobs has appointed Sheila Caldwell as advisor to the president on diversity at the University of North Georgia (UNG) to build on institutional diversity efforts.
"Our Diversity Council, which was started in 2014, is helping UNG take significant actions to ensure that our commitment to diversity is clear and that our university community appreciates the importance of diversity," Jacobs said. "Building on the work already underway, Sheila will work with our constituencies to develop and implement initiatives that will enable all members of the university community to thrive and contribute to our mission of educating and preparing students to become leaders in a diverse and global society."
Caldwell, who joined UNG in July 2013 as director of the university's Complete College Georgia initiative, a statewide initiative aimed at increasing the percentage of Georgia's population with some level of college completion to 60 percent to meet projected workforce needs, will continue to lead that work in addition to her new role.
Caldwell's short-term priorities include crafting a UNG Diversity Statement and Diversity Strategic Plan. Long-term goals for the university include hiring and retaining high-caliber, diverse job candidates; creating awareness, developing employee competencies, and building skills to ensure a more inclusive learning and work environment; supporting and strengthening current diversity initiatives; implementing diversity awards for faculty and staff who champion diversity; and starting a presidential diversity speaker series.
Before coming to UNG, Caldwell was the state coordinator of high school initiatives for the Technical College System of Georgia.
