Ozzie Harris appointed Director of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

Posted 05/11/99

Dartmouth President James Wright has appointed Ozzie Harris to be Director of Dartmouth's Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, effective immediately.

Harris, a member of the Dartmouth class of 1981, has served as Acting Director of the EO/AA Office since 1998. He was Associate Director of the office from 1993-98. He joined the Dartmouth administration in 1992 as Assistant Director of the Office of Financial Aid.

Harris will direct the College's affirmative action program; monitor compliance with federal equal opportunity statutes and guidelines for affirmative action throughout the College (including its three professional schools); serve as the institution's liaison with appropriate government agencies; communicate program philosophy, policies and procedures; promote educational programs and develop resource information; investigate and mediate complaints of discrimination; and report to and advise the President.

Wright said, "Ozzie has been a valuable member of this community for many years. He has been of enormous help to me this past year, and I appreciate all that he had done as Acting Director. I look forward to continuing our work together."

Roger Sloboda, Dean of Graduate Studies at Dartmouth and chair of the search committee which recommended the appointment of Harris, said, "I think Ozzie's appointment is unquestionably great for Dartmouth, and I am pleased the President accepted our recommendation. Everyone contacted about Ozzie's candidacy had nothing but praise and very strong, positive comments about his candidacy."

Harris said, "President Wright has made clear that Dartmouth holds the strongest possible commitment to the principles of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, seeking to create and maintain a community which both reflects the diversity of our society and facilitates the development of talent. I look forward to continuing to be part of Dartmouth's efforts in that direction."

Before joining the College's administration, Harris received a J.D. degree from Vermont Law School and worked as a law clerk for the Boston Human Rights Commission and the New Hampshire Public Defender's Office. He has also worked as House Supervisor for the Oregon Halfway House, Inc.; as Resident Supervisor for the Washington County (Oregon) Community Corrections office; as a Legal Investigator for Gorciak and Associates, Inc. (Portland, OR); as a Student Attorney for Harvard University's Prison Legal Assistance Project; as Legal Intern for the Boston Human Rights Commission; and as a Legal Intern for the Lewis and Clark Legal Clinic at the Northwestern School of Law (Portland, OR).