OU announced Jane Irungu as the interim associate vice president for university community ahead of a national search for Jabar Shumate's replacement.
Irungu, who currently serves as OU's director for the Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies, will serve in the position while a committee conducts a national search that is a "transparent and open process, including a committee representing the diversity of the university," according to an OU press release.
Irungu served as assistant vice president of intercultural initiatives in the Division of Student Life and director of the Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence in the Division of Equity and Inclusion at the University of Oregon before coming to OU.
“I am honored and humbled for the opportunity to serve in this new role,” Irungu wrote in the release. “I look forward to working with the faculty, staff, students and the entire OU community to enhance the foundations and principles of inclusive excellence that are part of our OU vision and mission.”
Irungu was selected based off a recommendation from a search committee tasked with interviewing internal candidates for the interim position. It is unclear if the same search committee members will be involved in the national search set to begin this fall.
The appointment comes after Jabar Shumate, OU's first vice president for university community, was given the option to resign or be terminated following an investigation determining he misused a university vehicle. Shumate announced his intention to bring legal action against the university.
This post will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
