Russell Sage College names new director of diversity and inclusion

TROY, N.Y. » Russell Sage College has named Barbara Cockfield as director of Diversity and Inclusion at its Troy and Albany campuses.

Cockfield is currently director of Student Engagement and Diversity at SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury, where she led, coordinated, planned, and developed a collaborative, college-wide vision for equity, diversity and inclusion.

She previously served as program manager for Equity, Diversity and Special Programs at Hillsborough Community College, a multi- campus institution serving 44,000 students in the Tampa area.

“Barbara Cockfield brings to us an outstanding record of creativity and achievements in advancing positive cultural change. She comes to Sage at a time that is especially ripe for progress and building community,” Russell Sage College President Christopher Ames said in a news release.

College officials said the director of diversity and inclusion coordinates Russell Sage College’s efforts to promote equity and social justice on campus. The position provides resources for all students, faculty, and staff, including support, activities, education and training. Cockfield will be chair of the college’s Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.

“I am very excited to join the Russell Sage College family and to continue to advance its legacy and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within the mission, curriculum and experiential learning of the institution,” Cockfield, who begins her work at Russell Sage College on Nov. 2 said.

“I’m extremely thankful and look forward to the opportunity to impact and change lives on a daily basis at such a critical time in both the college’s and our country’s history,” Cockfield added.