Diversity advocate, renowned rhetoric scholar to lead Merze Tate College as interim dean

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University's college dedicated to helping exploratory students discover their career purpose has a new leader. Dr. Staci Perryman-Clark, director of the Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies and professor of English and African American Studies, has been named interim dean of Merze Tate College.

"I have no doubt that her leadership will greatly contribute to the progress and continued success of the college," says Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

A search for a permanent dean will be initiated by academic affairs this fall.

STACI PERRYMAN-CLARK

A faculty member since 2010, Perryman-Clark is an internationally recognized scholar whose research interests include culturally relevant pedagogies, Afrocentric teaching and African American language and rhetoric. During her tenure at WMU, she has also served as interim director of Global and International Studies; acting and associate dean of Lee Honors College; director of first-year writing; and associate director of the Office of Faculty Development.

Perryman-Clark's national leadership experience includes chairing the Conference on College Composition and Communication—her field's flagship organization—where she was honored with a resolution for excellence in diversity, equity and inclusion. She also attended the Higher Education Resource Services Institute for Higher Education Leadership where she created the Dream Fellowship Program, which aims to diversify representation among aspiring campus leaders. It was implemented at Western where Perryman-Clark serves as a co-facilitator alongside Dr. Evelyn Winfield-Thomas, executive director of the Office of Institutional Equity.

An advocate for equity, Perryman-Clark received Western's 2022 Excellence in Diversity Award for her work leading diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for the provost's office as well as the Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies. The selection committee lauded her development of anti-bias and anti-racist workshops for faculty members serving on committees charged with determining promotions and hiring. Perryman-Clark was also recognized with the College of Arts and Sciences' Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2018.

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