Four Women Who Have Been Appointed to University Diversity Positions

Brooke Berry has been named assistant vice provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Virginia Commonwealth University. She was dean of students, equity, and inclusion at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.

Berry holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. She earned a juris doctorate from the University of Iowa.

Raven Baxter is the new director of diversity initiatives for the School of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Baxter has been working with PBS to create a science education TV show for young adults and she also runs an online clothing company called Smarty Pants.

Dr. Baxter holds a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in cellular and molecular biology, and a Ph.D. in science education from the University at Buffalo of the State University of New York System.

Sharnnia Artis has been appointed vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion and chief diversity officer at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, effective September 1. She has been serving as assistant dean of access and inclusion in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences and the Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine.

Dr. Artis received bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in industrial and systems engineering from Virginia Tech.

Barbara J. Lawrence has been appointed the inaugural vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Rider University in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. Lawrence previously served in a similar role at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. Earlier, Lawrence was associate dean of academic affairs and student administration and chair of the justice and policy studies department at Guilford College.

Lawrence received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. She earned a master of public administration degree from Indiana University-Purdue University and a juris doctorate from the Indiana University School of Law.