Inaugural Institutional Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer
The following message was emailed to the Middlebury Institute and Vermont campus communities.
We are delighted to welcome a new colleague, Dr. Nicholas M. Creary, in the inaugural role of Institutional Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Nick was selected through a national search process that included broad input from MIIS students, faculty, and staff.
The members of the search committee were impressed with his academic and administrative accomplishments, as well as his impactful engagement in national conversations about race and justice, including his leadership on the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Nick will serve as a visionary and operational leader of equity and inclusion work, collaborating with MIIS leadership to implement institution-wide diversity and inclusion initiatives and serve as a connector between strategic initiatives across the MIIS campus. Along with being personable and kind, Nick has a demonstrated record of intercultural competence and will work to promote full participation in the MIIS experience for students, faculty, and staff.
Nick received his PhD in African history from Michigan State University, his master’s in U.S. History from Catholic University, and his bachelor’s degree in history and African Studies from Georgetown University. Additionally, he received a master’s in higher education administration from Morgan State University. He served as associate provost for academic inclusion and innovation and associate professor of history at Moravian University, and as associate director of the Center for Diversity and Enrichment at the University of Iowa. He has published extensively in African and African American histories, co-founded the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project, and wrote the initial draft of H.B. 307 (2019) which established the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He also serves as chair of the Reconciliation Committee.
The inaugural role of Institutional Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion arose from the longstanding efforts and recommendations of MIIS student, faculty, and staff leaders who sought this role to advance the MIIS mission and support all members of the community. Nick’s presence marks a celebration and recognition of a community that deeply values diversity, belonging, and equity. Please join us in celebrating and welcoming Nick to the MIIS Community.
Sincerely,
Jeff Dayton-Johnson
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Institute
Khuram Hussain
Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Associate Professor of Education Studies