Anita Jenious has been named the director of the Opportunity Development Center at Vanderbilt University after serving as the interim director for two years.
The appointment comes after an extensive search, said Jerry G. Fife, vice chancellor for administration.
“Our search committee determined that Anita was the best candidate,” Fife said.
The ODC is Vanderbilt’s equal opportunity, affirmative action and disability services office, charged with the interpretation, understanding and application of federal and state laws which impose special obligations in the areas of equal opportunity and affirmative action. The office’s responsibilities include developing annual affirmative action plans for women and minorities, and for veterans and persons with disabilities; monitoring faculty and staff personnel policies and practices including recruitment, selection, promotion, termination, training and compensation; providing services for faculty, staff, and students with disabilities, and investigating alleged violations of Vanderbilt’s equal opportunity and anti-harassment policies.
“The ODC assists anyone who has any concerns about equal opportunity, affirmative action or disability issues,” Jenious said. “Faculty, staff, students, patients, applicants for employment, vendors, etc. We are experienced in working with a diverse clientele.” Jenious also serves as Vanderbilt’s Title VI, Title IX and ADA Coordinator.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee School Of Law and a Vanderbilt alumna, Jenious began her career at Vanderbilt before moving to the University of Pennsylvania and Tennessee State University. She returned to Vanderbilt in 1999. She is a member of the American Association of Affirmative Action and she serves on the board of the National Industry Liaison Group, an organization of federal contractors who voluntarily work the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to implement the best possible practices to ensure compliance with relevant federal regulations.
“It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead the ODC,” Jenious said. “The commitment to equal opportunity and affirmative action from faculty, staff, students and the leadership of Vanderbilt has grown stronger throughout the years. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the institution embrace diversity in many ways, including economic and academic diversity. I believe that the Vanderbilt community has come to view differences as starting points for stimulating discussion, teachable moments and meaningful transitions in ways that benefit us all.”
Media contact: Jim Patterson, (615) 322-NEWS
jim.patterson@vanderbilt.edu