OU announced a new leader for the Office of Institutional Equity in a mass email sent Friday.
Honey Ussery will join as associate vice president and institutional equity officer, pending final approval by the OU Board of Regents.
The Institutional Equity Office handles discrimination claims, affirmative action plans, claims involving the Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination and Harassment Policy, and gender equity issues related to athletics. The office was created in 2012 under former OU President David Boren.
In April, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. announced former Institutional Equity Officer Christine Taylor had accepted a position at the Husch Blackwell law firm in Milwaukee and that Marci Gracey, an Office of Legal Counsel staff attorney, would lead the office in an interim position.
According to the email sent by OU President Joseph Harroz Jr., this position plays an essential role in promoting an equitable and safe educational and work environment at OU.
Ussery currently serves as the assistant director of equal opportunity and regulatory compliance and Title IX coordinator at the University of Mississippi. She will start in her position at OU on Aug. 30.
During her time at the University of Mississippi, Ussery expanded its Title IX office by adding key staff members, drafting and implementing multiple policies and helped improve the office’s focus and procedures with Title VII investigations, according to the email.
“Throughout her professional endeavors, Honey has been a collaborative leader who demonstrates professionalism, diligence, and intentionality. We look forward to working alongside her to build lasting change at OU,” Harroz wrote in the email.
This story was edited by Taylor Jones.
