Gustavus Adolphus College President Rebecca M. Bergman sent this message to students, faculty, and staff on March 18, 2021.
Gustavus continues to work toward a vision of being a just community where all of us feel a sense of belonging and benefit from an exceptional education. In support of this vision, I am pleased to announce that Ron White ’75 has agreed to serve as the College’s Senior Advisor for Equity, Inclusion, and Racial Justice for the next year.
In this new role, Mr. White will report to me and be responsible for: 1) helping to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at Gustavus; 2) assisting with the continued rollout of our community’s Racial Justice and Inclusion initiatives; 3) participating in and advancing the work of the President’s Council for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and 4) partnering with the Board of Trustees, President’s Cabinet, Center for Inclusive Excellence, and other groups on key diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. In addition, he will bring strong leadership and experience to the process of hiring and onboarding our first-ever Vice President for Equity and Inclusion.
“I am excited to continue partnering with Ron to advance the College’s important equity and inclusion work,” Chaplain and Special Assistant to the President for DEI Rev. Dr. Siri Erickson said. “The creation of this position will help us to continue to build momentum around these efforts as we prepare to welcome our new vice president.”
Many of you know Mr. White through his leadership on the Gustavus Board of Trustees for the past 11 years, his previous service as President of the Gustavus Alumni Association, or his recent facilitation of the College’s Racial Justice and Inclusion listening sessions in the fall of 2020. Ron graduated from Gustavus in 1975 with a degree in history and went on to a distinguished career in sales, marketing, and healthcare before starting his own consulting company in 2005.
“This position reflects our deep commitment to building a welcoming environment for all students, faculty, and staff,” Board of Trustees Chair Scott Anderson ’89 said. “Ron is a passionate, action-oriented leader and I am pleased that he has agreed to help the College navigate this time of growth and change.”
Please join me in welcoming Ron White to this important role as we continue to move forward together in our pursuit of equity, inclusion, and racial justice.