Dear College of Arts and Sciences,
It is with great pleasure that I write today to announce that Dr. Joy Bostic, associate professor in the Department of Religious Studies, has been selected as the College’s inaugural Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Dr. Bostic will assume this position in the Dean’s Office on July 1, 2021, while also continuing as a faculty member and co-principal investigator of the Humanities in Leadership Learning Series (HILLS) funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
In this vital role, Dr. Bostic will aid me in developing and implementing policies that promote a climate of greater inclusivity across the College. She will take concrete steps to help us realize the vision articulated in the College’s Diversity Statement—ensuring, for example, that our hiring and retention practices are equitable and unbiased. She will also assist the College in further building curricula that draw from the rapidly expanding body of scholarship exploring diverse histories, cultures and lived experiences.
Dr. Bostic’s outstanding scholarship, institutional knowledge and leadership ability, along with her commitment to equity in university practices, will make her an invaluable addition to the College’s administrative team.
Dr. Bostic has previously served as Case Western Reserve’s interim vice president for inclusion, diversity and equal opportunity (2019-20). She is also the founding director of the African and African American Studies minor in the College.
Before joining the university as a visiting assistant professor in 2007, Dr. Bostic earned a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and a doctorate in systematic theology from Union Theological Seminary. In addition, she holds a law degree and a Master of Arts in public policy and management from The Ohio State University.
I want to thank Dr. Bostic for the extraordinary service and support she has already provided to the College and the university. I am thrilled to welcome her to the Dean’s Office to do what will be some of the most important work in the College.
Sincerely,
Joy K. Ward
Dean