OU hires VP for diversity and inclusion

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma announced a new hire on Friday to help bolster the school's promise to ensure a more diverse and inclusive campus.

In a news release on Friday afternoon, OU announced the hiring of Belinda Higgs Hyppolite as the vice president of diversity and inclusion, pending approval from the OU Board of Regents.

Hyppolite currently serves as assistant vice president for student development and enrollment s ervices at t he University of Central Florida and will start at OU in January 2020.

“Creating and sustaining a culture of i nclusivity and equity at OU strikes at the very core of our humanity and is central to the continuation of our democracy,” said OU Interim President Joseph Harroz Jr. “Dr. Hyppolite's extensive experience in diversity and inclusion work positions us to build upon OU's great momentum and the progress we have enjoyed the past several months.”

Hy p polite is succeeding current interim Vice President Jane Irungu, who has served in her interim role since August 2018.

Hyppolite has worked for more than two decades in higher education and holds a number of certi f i cati ons related to the implementation of higher education diversity and inclusion efforts while also publishing extensive writings on the subject, according to the release.

Hyppolite will begin her work in the wake of several racist incidents on campus, including three incidents of blackface either by students or near campus.

Since Harroz was named interim president in May, he has said it's a key goal of his to increase the university's diversity and inclusion efforts.

“It's not about hoping the next incident doesn't occur, but being honest, forthright and being proactive in making sure we communicate and that we are clear and that we have programs that help us understand each other and that we make it our strength,” Harroz said in the days after he was hired.