Dear Colleagues,
I write today with an update on the leadership of the university’s Office of Institutional Equity. Shaniqua Crawford, who joined OU last December as Institutional Equity Officer, Equal Opportunity Officer, and Title IX Coordinator, has resigned from the university. To assist with this transition, Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Belinda Higgs Hyppolite will serve as Acting Institutional Equity Officer, Equal Opportunity Officer, and Title IX Coordinator. Given the critical nature of this position in supporting our entire university community, under the guidance of Human Resources, the university has made an exception to the search process for a replacement as allowed by the university’s National Recruitment Procedures.
Taking these factors into consideration, I am pleased to announce that, pending approval by the OU Board of Regents, Christine Taylor will join OU on Dec. 6 as our new Institutional Equity Officer, Equal Opportunity Officer, and Title IX Coordinator. Christine underwent last year’s search process and was a finalist for the position. With this appointment, we will be able to swiftly provide the Office of Institutional Equity with necessary leadership.
With nearly 20 years of higher education experience, Christine currently serves as Institutional Equity and Compliance Director at Wichita State University. In this role, she ensures WSU’s compliance with laws and regulations regarding equal opportunity, civil rights, affirmative action, sexual harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct.
At OU, Christine will lead the Institutional Equity Office, overseeing the university’s affirmative action and equal opportunity compliance efforts, as well as investigating complaints of sexual misconduct, discrimination, and harassment.
While at Wichita State, Christine has been instrumental in developing and implementing operating protocols to centralize reporting and institutional response. She also implemented a comprehensive investigation process and structured her team so it could best support the institution’s overall goals. Prior to joining WSU, Christine worked at Marquette University, where she served as Title IX Coordinator and authored Marquette’s Title IX Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Policy. Over the course of three years, she developed and conducted more than 80 in-person training sessions for faculty, staff, and students on mandatory reporting obligations, effective response to reports, and bystander intervention.
Christine earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Iowa State University and a Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law. She also attended the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, earning a Master of Laws in Dispute Resolution.
Her extensive knowledge and professional experience make her an ideal candidate for this position. We look forward to working alongside her as we reaffirm our commitment to making OU a place of true belonging for all.
Please join me in welcoming Christine to the OU Family.
Live On, University,
Joseph Harroz, Jr.
President
