Introducing our new AVC for Equal Opportunity and Title IX, Emily Babb

Dear DU community members,

I am thrilled to introduce Emily Babb as the University of Denver’s new associate vice chancellor for equal opportunity and Title IX. Emily’s first official day at DU is January 4, 2021. The AVC for EOIX role is vitally important, and I am confident DU has found in Emily a highly competent and empathetic leader.

Ahead of her start date, Emily is very excited to take on this new role. “One of my top priorities will be conducting outreach,” Emily says. “I want to talk directly with students, staff, and faculty to learn more about how I and the EOIX office can best serve the DU community.”

Emily comes to DU from the University of Virginia where she most recently served concurrently as interim associate vice president for equal opportunity and civil rights and assistant vice president for Title IX compliance/Title IX coordinator. Previously, she served in the Cleveland U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights as acting regional director, program manager and supervisory attorney. She has also served as senior attorney in the Dallas U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Across her over 15-year career, Emily has shown a deep devotion to upholding civil rights and ensuring equal access. She has experience working in a university setting implementing and upholding sexual misconduct policies—and in doing so, helping all in the community learn and work in a safe and healthy environment. She has effectively responded to reports of discrimination, harassment and retaliation and provided training to students, faculty and staff to help prevent such instances before they occur. She has experience collaborating across departments to ensure equal access to employment and education opportunities, and she has a developed a depth of expertise on the resolution and investigative processes involved with reports of prohibited conduct.

Emily’s background as an attorney affords her a distinct ability to understand and navigate complex policy. She seeks community input and has experience holding listening sessions and soliciting feedback when drafting an institution’s sexual misconduct policy. She is adept, as well, at remaining continually connected to the community, performing regular climate surveys to ensure the institution’s policies and their implementation are effective.

In her role as AVC of EOIX and Title IX Coordinator at DU, Emily will respond to complaints and reports in a timely manner. She will uphold DU’s sexual misconduct policy fully and transparently, while protecting the privacy of those involved. She will be an approachable and trustworthy resource for all in our community and use her knowledge and experience to foster an environment of equal opportunity and equity at DU where we can all thrive—free from gender-based discrimination, harassment or violence. As AVC for EOIX, Emily will lead and empower her team and serve as a trusted resource to DU’s leadership.

I want to thank the search committee, chaired by Beth Robischon, associate general counsel, for their work in filling this important role. My deep appreciation to Apryl Alexander, clinical assistant professor, GSPP; Kristin Deal, director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Dong Dinh, graduate student and Community+Values graduate fellow; Sarah Hurtado, assistant professor, MCE; Ryan Hyde, president of Undergraduate Student Government; Joshua Kaufman, director, Disability Services Program; Kristine McCaslin, director, Student Rights and Responsibilities; Madeline Membrino, undergraduate student and wecanDUbetter co-founder; Kayla Rodriguez, coordinator, CAPE Advocacy Services; and Tom Romero, interim vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion.

And thanks, as well, to Erika Hollis, who has served so ably as interim executive director and Title IX Coordinator the past three months and will continue in the role until Emily begins.

DU is grateful to have someone as dedicated, capable and experienced as Emily Babb assume the role of associate vice chancellor for equal opportunity and Title IX. Emily, her husband, three children and brand-new puppy will soon begin the move from Charlottesville to Denver. Please join me in welcoming them to the University of Denver community!

Sincerely,

Jeremy Haefner
Chancellor