The President’s Diversity Advisory Council (PDAC) monitors and assesses the Diversity Strategic Plan. It also proposes new initiatives to the President’s Staff to enhance equity and inclusion at Muhlenberg.
What is PDAC?
The President’s Diversity Advisory Council (PDAC) is a college-wide body charged with monitoring all aspects of institutional diversity pertaining to students, staff and faculty and providing recommendations to the President on strategies to advance the College’s strategic priority to become a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable community that promotes a sense of belonging for all. The council brings together faculty, staff, student, and alumni leaders to serve as a collaborative hub of strategic thinking on diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging (DEIB).
What are the specific charges of PDAC?
- advising the President on strategies to enhance diversity and inclusion (broadly defined) at the college
- monitoring progress on diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging initiatives
- cataloging DEIB efforts across the institution
- making priority recommendations to the President
- making policy and/or policy change recommendations to the President
- regularly communicating with campus constituencies on diversity and inclusion work of the college and inviting community engagement
- monitoring and updating the College’s diversity website
- keeping the President updated on campus developments related to diversity and inclusion and recommend other campus constituents, leaders, and/or committees who should be informed
- providing a campus voice for diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging issues
How is PDAC membership determined?
The Council consists of students, faculty and staff from across campus whose positions or co-curricular involvement are tied to the College's initiatives on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. The president appoints the Council's chair(s), who then make recommendations for additional members from senior leadership, academic affairs, college life, admissions, alumni, the Multicultural Advisory Board and Religious and Spiritual Life.
President's Diversity Advisory Council Members
- Ranajoy Ray-Chaudhuri, Council Co-Chair; Associate Professor, Accounting, Business, Economics & Finance, Director, Muhlenberg Scholars Honors Program
- Allison Williams, Council Co-Chair; Vice President, College Life and Dean of Students
- Joshua Barcszewski, Assistant Professor, English Literatures & Writing, Writing Program Director
- Teigan Brown '25, Religious and Spiritual Life representative
- Gretchen Gotthard, Dean of Academic Life, Professor of Neuroscience
- Beth Halpern, Director, Community Engagement
- Raja Darain Khan '25, SGA representative
- Bret Kobler, Alumni Representative
- Todd Lineburger, Vice President, Communications and Marketing
- Janelle Neubauer, Chaplain
- Kassandra Prado-Escalante '25, Multicultural Life representative
- Robin Riley-Casey, Associate Dean of Students & Director, Student Diversity Initiatives
- Leticia Robles-Moreno, Assistant Professor, Theatre and Performance Studies
- Courtney Stephens, Associate Dean of Students
- Baron Vanderburg, Associate Director of Admissions & Director of Access, Inclusion and Diversity Initiatives
- Jill Walsh, Vice President, Human Resources
