The Institutional Equity Office is beginning a search for the next institutional equity officer, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. announced Thursday morning.
Christine Taylor worked at the university for two years, serving as the institutional equity officer, equal opportunity officer and Title IX coordinator. According to an email sent by Harroz, Taylor has accepted a position at the Husch Blackwell law firm in Milwaukee, and her last day will be May 2.
“Christine’s contributions to our university community have been invaluable. Her expertise and collaborative approach have played a pivotal role in fostering a welcoming, safe culture for all,” Harroz wrote in the email. “While we are saddened by her departure, we are also excited for her as she returns to her home state of Wisconsin and embraces this new opportunity closer to her family.”
Marci Gracey, who has worked in the Office of Legal Counsel, will take over from Taylor in an interim position until the role for institutional equity officer is filled. This will take effect April 20.
Gracey has been a part of the legal team since 2021, specializing in anti-discrimination law, employee relations and student conduct. She has obtained the Title IX Coordinator and Administrator Level One Certification from the Association of Title IX Administrators, the nation’s leading membership organization for Title IX professionals.
OU's Title IX office has undergone several leadership changes since April 2020 when Title IX Coordinator Bobby Mason resigned and accepted a position at Texas State University after the office faced criticism for a lack of transparency during report investigation. Mason was later replaced by Shaniqua Crawford in November 2020. Current director of employee relations and interim Title IX coordinator at Oklahoma City Community College, Faustina Layne, served as interim during the leadership shift. Taylor took her position in December 2021 following Crawford.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure and Ismael Lele. Avery Avery and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.
