Mission
The Presidential Task Force for Opportunity and Equity is a representative team invested in developing an equitable and inclusive Auburn University. Our current priority is to examine racial inequality and to recommend strategies for addressing disparities. The membership of this group may change in response to specifics that may emerge.
Members
Lt. Gen. Ron Burgess (ret), chair
Executive Vice President
Ms. Akilah Alwan
Graduate School
Dr. Katrina A.R. Akande
Assistant Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies
University Senate Representative
Ms. Nia Avila
Graduate Student
Mr. Michael Bennett
Executive Vice President of Outreach, Student Government Association
Ms. Madison Birckhead
President, Panhellenic Council
Ms. Mikayla Brown
Undergrad Student, Emerge
Ms. Angela Cannon
Department of Human Resources
Administrative & Professional Staff Representative
Dr. Taffye Benson Clayton
Vice President, Inclusion and Diversity
Dr. Royrickers Cook
Vice President, University Outreach
Mr. C. Kevin Coonrod
University Ombudsperson
Dr. Oladiran Fasina
Professor & Head, Department of Biosystems Engineering
Department Chair/Head Representative
Dr. Joffery Gaymon
Vice President, Enrollment Services
Dr. Ernest Gibson
Associate Professor, Department of English; Co-Director of African Studies
Mrs. Jaime Hammer
General Counsel
Dr. Bill Hardgrave
Provost
Ms. Ada Ruth Huntley
President, Student Government Association
Mr. Seymour Irby
President, Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity
Interfraternity Council
Mr. Ronny Isaac
President, National Pan-Hellenic Council
Dr. Robin Jaffe
Professor, Department of Theatre
Dr. Kimberly Mulligan-Guy
Assistant Dean for Inclusion, Equity and Diversity, College of Sciences and Mathematics
Ms. Lastella Paradise
Department of Human Resources
Staff Council Representative
Coach Bruce Pearl
Men’s Basketball
Dr. Jared Russell
Director of Diversity, Professor and Assistant Director, School of Kinesiology
Dr. Melody Russell
Professor, College of Education
Mr. Jailin Sanders
President, Black Student Union
Dr. Joellen Sefton
Professor, College of Education; Director, Warrior Research Center
Dr. Kamden Strunk
Associate Professor, College of Education
Dr. Giovanna Summerfield
Professor and Associate Dean for Educational Affairs/Foreign Language and Literature, College of Education
Mr. Jeffery Turnipseed
Undergrad Student, Black Student Union
Mrs. Gretchen VanValkenburg
Vice President, Alumni Affairs
Subcommittees
- Dr. Taffye Benson Clayton, leader
- Ms. Angela Cannon
- Ms. Elizabeth Devore
- Ms. Donielle Fagan
- Dr. Oladiran Fasina
- Mrs. Jaime Hammer
- Ms. Ada Ruth Huntley
- Mr. Seymour Irby
- Mr. Ronny Isaac
- Coach Bruce Pearl
- Mrs. Gretchen VanValkenburg
- Dr. Joffery Gaymon, leader
- Dr. Katrina Akande
- Ms. Madison Birckhead
- Dr. Royrickers Cook
- Mr. Kevin Coonrod
- Dr. Vini Nathan
- Ms. Lastella Paradise
- Ms. Mya Strickland
- Ms. Ja’Lia Taylor
- Dr. Bill Hardgrave
- Dr. Vini Nathan - leader
- Dr. Katrina Akande
- Dr. Taffye Benson Clayton
- Dr. Royrickers Cook
- Ms. Donielle Fagan
- Mrs. Jaime Hammer
- Mr. Seymour Irby
- Ms. Lastella Paradise
- Coach Bruce Pearl
- Dr. Melody Russell
- Mrs. Gretchen VanValkenburg, leader
- Ms. Madison Birckhead
- Ms. Angela Cannon
- Mr. Kevin Coonrod
- Ms. Elizabeth Devore
- Dr. Oladiran Fasina
- Dr. Joffery Gaymon
- Ms. Ada Ruth Huntley
- Mr. Ronny Isaac
- Ms. Mya Strickland
- Ms. Ja'Lia Taylor