ETSU: Jessica Wang is Clemmer's New Assistant Dean Of Equity, Inclusion, And Student Success

From East Tennessee State University:

February 11, 2022

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – East Tennessee State University’s Clemmer College has announced that Jessica ‘Jessie’ Wang will serve in the college’s inaugural role of assistant dean of Equity, Inclusion, and Student Success. This is an expansion upon her previous role, director of Student Success.

The news comes following distinct recommendations made to the college by their Diversity
and Belongingness Task Force last Spring semester. After a college-wide survey and
consultation, college leadership concluded an administrative level position would
be beneficial in elevating the college’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The role serves to develop additional resources and establish a formal structure
to provide direction and support for the college’s diversity, equity and inclusion
efforts.

Wang, who is an elected member of ETSU’s Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council, has also served on the college’s Diversity and Belongingness Task Force.

“I’m thrilled to formally combine my passions for student success and diversity, equity and inclusion with this new role and hope to ignite that same passion in others,” said Wang. “Withnequity and inclusion, the motto that drives me is ‘faster alone, further together,’
and moving forward together is what we do at the Clemmer College. We have a lot of
plans so the work has already begun. This community has become home to me, and my
hope is to bring people together to help move our college, university and region forward
towards becoming an even more culturally competent and inclusive place.”

Wang holds a bachelor’s degree from Emmanuel College in Counseling Psychology, and
a master's degree from Harvard University in Higher Education, where her research
centered on fostering historically underrepresented student success at predominantly
white institutions of higher education, focusing primarily on students of color and
first-generation students. Since arriving at ETSU in July 2020, Wang has been invited
to present on a wide range of topics in relation to diversity, equity and inclusion
by multiple offices and departments at ETSU, the Langston Centre, Harvard University,
Emmanuel College and the University of Kentucky.

In addition to her new role, Wang will retain all current responsibilities that she
held as Director of Student Success.

For more information regarding the role of Assistant Dean of Equity, Inclusion and
Student Success, contact Dean Janna Scarborough at scarboro@etsu.edu or 423-439-7616. To find out more about Clemmer College’s efforts to promote diversity, equity and
inclusion, contact Wang at wangjk@etsu.edu or 423-439-7514.

This press release was produced by East Tennessee State University. The views expressed are the author's own.