Presidential Faculty Diversity Initiative
For an academic health center, the demonstrable benefits of a diverse faculty, staff, and student body are myriad. From enhancing the educational experience for our students, improving recruitment and retention, to increasing patient access to care – we all benefit from a welcoming and supportive environment. While Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) is more diverse and inclusive than many of our peer institutions, if not most, we can take additional steps through conscious efforts, strategic planning, and meaningful investment to become truly representative and reflective of New Jersey, our very diverse State.
The newly launched Presidential Faculty Diversity Initiative fits perfectly within the overarching goals we have for creating systemic change here at Rutgers.
Presidential Faculty Diversity Initiative RBHS Process
RBHS Faculty Funded through Chancellor’s and President’s Diversity Initiative (2015-2020)
The President’s Office previously developed a program to foster the recruitment of tenure track and tenured faculty recruits which funded up to 50% of select diverse faculty recruits for up to three years. The RBHS Chancellor’s Office provided additional funds to recruit up to three new diverse faculty members per year for their first two years, irrespective of faculty track.
RBHS Faculty Recruits Supported by the President’s Diversity Program
2019-2020
- Modupe Coker, Assistant Professor, School of Dental Medicine
- Keri Lundsford, Assistant Professor, New Jersey Medical School
- Jaya Satagopan, Professor, School of Public Health
2018-2019
- Hyung Ahn, Assistant Professor, New Jersey Medical School
- Ioana Carcea, Assistant Professor, New Jersey Medical School
- Vivian Li, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health
- Advathia Madireddy, Assistant Professor, Cancer Institute of New Jersey
2017-2018
- Nataki Douglas, Associate Professor, New Jersey Medical School
- Pamela Valera, Associate Professor, School of Public Health
2016-2017
- Perry Halkitis, Dean, School of Public Health
- Emi Shimizu, Associate Professor, School of Dental Medicine
2015-2016
- Olga Jarrin, Associate Professor, School of Nursing
RBHS Faculty Recruits Supported by the RBHS Chancellor’s Diversity Program
2019-2020
- Luis Alzate-Duque, Assistant Professor, New Jersey Medical School
- Renata Korczak, Assistant Professor, School of Health Professions
- Vincent Silenzio, Professor, School of Public Health
2018-2019
- Ehimare Akhabue, Assistant Professor, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- Victor Cueto, Assistant Professor, New Jersey Medical School
- Jose Centeno, Professor, School of Health Professions
2017-2018
- Wei Huang, Assistant Professor, School of Dental Medicine
- Jeffrey Kwong, Professor, School of Nursing
- Shristi Rawal, RBHS Instructor, School of Health Professions