COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of Missouri has named an interim vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity. Chuck Henson, associate dean for academic affairs and trial practice in the MU School of Law will assume the role, effective immediately.
Henson has worked with the university since 2009. He has served as an adjunct professor, visiting professor of law and trial practice professor of law. His scholarship focuses on Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. He has also taught legal courses focusing on employment discrimination.
"We're pleased that Professor Henson has agreed to serve in this very important and crucial role at our university," Provost Garnett Stokes said in a release. "We're looking forward to working with him as we continue to make Mizzou an inclusive and welcoming community for everyone who teaches, works and studies here."
The move comes a day after University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe and Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced their resignations amid outcry and protests at the university's flagship campus in Columbia.
Monday afternoon, the University of Missouri Board of Curators laid out a list of new initiatives it plans to enact in the next 90 days to address racial turmoil in the school system. Among those initiatives was a plan to appoint a first chief officer for diversity, inclusion and equity. The school system will also review all university policies to provide more support to those who discrimination, and work toward hiring a more diverse faculty and staff. All four campuses will require task forces to address inclusion.
