At Lehigh, we are fortunate to belong to a community that is committed to creating not only a sustainable environment, but also one that is diverse, healthy, and inclusive. Afterall, Lehigh defines sustainability as the integration of social equity, environmental stewardship, and economic prosperity into campus-wide administrative, academic, and operational processes. Dr. Donald Outing, Lehigh’s inaugural Vice President for Equity and Community (VPEC), is tasked with leading Lehigh’s efforts to advance the institution's work on diversity, equity, and inclusion. He is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to continue to build on, and enhance, Lehigh’s progress. Dr. Outing shared his background with us and his vision for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at Lehigh. Here’s what Dr. Outing told us:
Q1: How did you become interested in a career focused on the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
My interest in a career focused on diversity, inclusion, and equity was forged during my time as a mathematics professor. During my time as a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at West Point, I became very aware of the underrepresentation of African-American and Hispanic/Latinx students and faculty participating in the mathematical sciences. I developed and implemented strategies to attract students to major in mathematics and faculty to teach in the department. We were so successful that I founded the West Point Center for Leadership and Diversity in STEM (CLD_STEM); its mission was to broaden participation among women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields. Eventually, I was selected to lead diversity and inclusion work across West Point as its first Chief Diversity Officer.
Q2: What are your main responsibilities as the Vice President for Equity and Community at Lehigh?
My primary responsibilities as the VPEC are to lead intuitional efforts to advance diversity, inclusion, and equity at Lehigh by:
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- Working with the multiple constituencies and stakeholders to help create a clear, unified vision.
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- Leveraging existing commitments and programs to sustain and grow an inclusive environment.
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- Developing and maintaining an infrastructure to support, enhance, and sustain diversity and inclusion initiatives across the institution.
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- Strengthening public awareness by creating effective mechanisms to communicate Lehigh’s broad commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity.
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- Providing executive-level leadership through active engagement with and advisement to the president, senior leaders, board of trustees, faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
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- Encouraging creativity and innovation in programing, pedagogy, research, recruitment, training, and administrative operations.
Q3: What is your vision for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at Lehigh?
Simply stated, my vision is for Lehigh University to become the best example of an inclusive institution among all colleges and universities, while maintaining its national status as a top tier academic and a premier private, residential research university.
Q4: What is your proudest accomplishment so far?
I am proud of a number of personal and professional accomplishments in my lifetime. Those accomplishments include completing my Ph.D., becoming a father, completing a 30-year military career, and so on. However, if I were to focus on my most recent accomplishments, I’d have to say becoming a grandfather and becoming Lehigh University’s inaugural Vice President for Equity and Community.
Q5: What impact do you hope to make at Lehigh?
My hope is to leave Lehigh in a better state than when I arrived, and for it to be on a path to becoming a truly equitable community that values and celebrates the varying attributes, backgrounds, and experiences of its members. I also want Lehigh to be a place where everyone possesses an authentic and empowered sense of participation and a true sense of belonging.
Help make our campus more sustainable and create a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and alumni. For more information and resources, please visit: https://www1.lehigh.edu/diversity.