The Honors College is pleased to announce that Erika Crews has accepted the inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) position at the Honors College. Erika’s new role is effective October 1, 2023.
The creation of the new position emerged from the Honors College’s strategic planning process and is designed to elevate and enact our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the Honors College.
“The meaningful connections Erika has with our students and her history of work in the Honors College and around campus puts her in a unique position to lead our diversity, equity, and belonging priorities in the Honors College,” said Christopher P. Long, dean of the Honors College. “With this elevated role, we also have the opportunity to renew the commitment and imperative each of us in the Honors College has to create a climate of inclusion.”
Erika has been the College’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) coordinator and advisor since April 2020. In this time, Erika has been instrumental in advancing the Honors College’s DEI Strategic Plan with her work leading the Academic Scholars Program, the HC IMPACT Week of Service, the Diversity Research Showcase, and co-coordinating the Honors Navigators Peer Mentorship Program. Additionally, she has helped lead student organization advising for our first-generation student and students of color affinity organizations, staff professional development events, as well as co-chairing the college’s Inclusive Excellence Strategic Committee of MSU faculty, staff, and students.
Last summer, Erika created and coordinated the first Academic Scholars bridge program Accelerating Connections and Excellence (ACE) that welcomed first-generation and Pell-eligible students to the campus environment early with an honors class and interactive program.
Around campus, Erika is known for her work with the Intergroup Dialogues program and university-wide First-Generation initiatives, and for promoting professional development for the advising community.
In her new role, Erika will continue to lead and grow our DEIB strategic initiatives and help the Honors College staff grow their own professional capacities in DEIB.