A Trio of Women Who Have Been Assigned New Duties Relating to Diversity

Ann Gakumo was named associate dean for inclusion and community impact at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, effective July 1. She is an associate professor and holds the Greer Glazer Endowed Chair in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the College of Nursing. Before joining the University of Cincinnati in 2021, Dr. Gakumo taught at the University of Massachusetts Boston College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing.

Dr. Gakumo is a graduate of Tuskegee University in Alabama, where she majored in nursing. She holds a Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Becky Bangs has been promoted to executive director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at Oregon State University. She has been serving as director of equal opportunity investigations and deputy Title IX coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access. Prior to arriving at Oregon State, Bangs worked eight years for Multnomah County, Oregon, in the Department of County Human Service.

Bangs earned a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University. She holds a master’s degree from the School for International Training Graduate Institute in Vermont.

Romona West was appointed assistant dean of inclusive excellence and strategic initiatives for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. She will continue in her role as the inaugural and chief academic diversity officer for the college. Prior to joining Fulbright College in 2019 as director of diversity initiatives, West was the assistant director of graduate recruitment and outreach for the Graduate School and International Education at the university.

West holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on accounting and a juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas.