Salem College names new diversity director
Above: Hines-Gaither
By Todd Luck
The Chronicle
Dr. Krishauna Hines-Gaither will become Salem College’s first Director of Diversity and Inclusiveness later this year.
In an email announcing the position, Salem College President Dr. Lorraine Sterritt said Hine-Gaither was well qualified for the office.
“As Director of Diversity and Inclusiveness, Dr. Hines-Gaither will collaborate with students, faculty, and staff on programs and initiatives designed to provide exemplary learning experiences in and beyond the classroom for the College’s richly diverse student population, as well as education in diversity and inclusiveness for the entire campus community,” wrote Sterritt.
Of Salem College’s 1,100 students, 7 percent are international students and 40 percent of undergraduate students are students of color. Hines-Gaither said her new position, which will begin in August, is the continuation of years of work on the campus on diversity and inclusion.
“The position doesn’t imply that the work is new, but I believe it is now formalized and institutionalized with the position and I believe that’s really important,” she said.
The position came out of an assessment of the campus in 2008 that suggested having an office for diversity and inclusiveness. The college wasn’t financially able to offer the position at the time but a Committee on Community was formed, on which Hines-Gaither serves. The 30 member committee includes students, faculty, staff and administration who work toward social justice and inclusiveness. The office became part of the college’s strategic plan and was implemented under the recommendation of the Committee on Community.
Hines-Gaither is an alumnus of Salem College where she received her bachelor’s degree in Spanish. She has a master’s degree in Spanish education from Wake Forest University and a doctorate from UNC Greensboro. She is also a graduate of Middlebury College French Language School in Vermont.
She joined the faculty of Salem’s Modern Languages Department in 2004. She primarily teaches Spanish and also teaches courses on women’s studies and race and ethnicity studies. She has been an advisor to student organizations like Onua, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and Black Americans Demonstrating Unity (BADU).
She is the past president of the Foreign Language Association of N.C. and the co-founder of African-American Linguists, an organization that promotes world languages to African-American students.
Hines-Gaither said she’s looking forward to her new position and is glad the college continues to demonstrate its commitment to inclusiveness.
“It’s part of the fabric of the institution that we honor and we value diversity,” said Hines-Gaither.
