Stephanie Akunvabey, EdD, who joined Pace University in 2023 as associate vice president for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, has led a significant transformation of the university’s approach to campus culture. This fall, the former Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was relaunched as the Division of Opportunity and Institutional Excellence (DOIE). The change reflects a broader mission to make Pace more inclusive and supportive for all members of its community.
Akunvabey explained the motivation behind the division’s new name and focus. “Expansion. As a team, DOIE is laser focused on expanding our impact, improving the student experience, and making sure that Pace is a place where everyone feels welcomed and supported. With that in mind, we’ve intentionally partnered with Human Resources, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and other University divisions to ensure that inclusive excellence is a value that guides how we work, learn, and grow together.”
She described how opportunity and institutional excellence are defined within the division: “Pace has a long history of providing students with one-of-a-kind opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom. As a division, we strive to ensure that every Pace student can access those opportunities. We are committed to supporting socially, culturally, and economically diverse populations by mitigating barriers that have traditionally made it difficult for some students to truly thrive. We believe that an institution can only be excellent if it is fully committed to creating inclusive policies and practices.”
Akunvabey also spoke about what motivated recent changes through the DEI Realignment Plan. “When I arrived at the University in August 2023, I went on a listening tour. During that time I heard from the Pace students, faculty, and staff who had championed diversity efforts at the University long before my arrival. It was clear that while there had been lots of progress, there was still a lot of frustration. The institution had followed a common model of creating small enclaves of support for students of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, but it hadn’t proved to be enough.
The realignment plan allowed us to create an organizational structure that would expand our service focus to include other historically marginalized student groups, while also supporting faculty and staff. We made an intentional effort to focus on preventive measures and educational tools, rather than just compliance and reporting for Title IX issues.”
Discussing outreach across campuses—including partnerships with law schools and centers dedicated to equity—Akunvabey said: “In the past two years, we’ve begun partnering with the Haub School of Law and reimagined our approach on the NYC and Pleasantville campuses. The Gosin Center for Equity and Inclusion has proven to be a hub for important dialogues and new leadership opportunities for faculty, staff, and students. Office of Multicultural Affairs (ōMA) in NYC is a Pace hallmark, and ōMA in Pleasantville has revamped its programming and expanded its partnership with the Athletics division. The Office of Sexual and Interpersonal Wellness does really important work with all of our first-year students and provides critical support for the community through the peer educator program on both the NYC and Pleasantville campuses. Our entire division actively engages with alumni and community partners in NYC and Westchester. Our footprint is bigger than ever, and we’re looking for creative ways to do more.”
On integrating inclusive excellence into daily university life: “Inclusive excellence is a strategic approach to embed our work into the core of the institution’s primary functions. We’re leveraging a few key drivers to ensure that we move from aspiration to action. When it comes to teaching, hiring, University programming, or community engagement, we want everyone to use a lens of cultural awareness that celebrates diverse perspectives. We’re doubling down on our partnerships and working to create a culture where a commitment to shared equity leadership and accountability are the norm.”
Regarding collaboration across departments: “Historically, equity and inclusion work has been left in the hands of a few passionate and committed individuals. That approach has not moved the needle in the way that we hoped. Shared equity leadership simply acknowledges that everyone has a role to play in improving our campus environment. Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Human Resources have been amazing partners, but we’re looking to work closely with other areas in the near future. As an example, it requires a coordinated effort between multiple divisions to ensure that essential accommodations are granted for members of our community with various accessibility needs. There’s lots of work to be done in this area, and collaboration is the only way to make the progress that we hope to achieve.”
The DOIE will host launch events across campuses this fall as part of its relaunch initiative: “We know people still have questions about what this change means. The launch events will give faculty and staff an opportunity to hear directly from me and the team. We’ve planned for great discussions, interactive components—and we’ll even have a cookie or two. Folks should show up for the good vibes and the refreshments.”
Akunvabey encouraged participation beyond attending events: “Absolutely. The launch events are a kick-off to a full year of engagement and movement towards a new vision. We have a few significant opportunities for folks to get involved and help shape what comes next.”
She offered advice on how community members can support DOIE’s mission: “Keep an open mind. I know there’s a great deal of change and uncertainty, but the DOIE team remains committed to deep and meaningful service. We invite the Pace Community to join us in our radical commitment to social impact, justice, and equitable student success.”
Looking ahead at her hopes for DOIE’s impact by next academic year’s end: “We want to be a beacon of hope and inspiration for the community. We’ve found a way to be nimble and creative, and we’re darn proud of the progress we’ve made.
This year,
we want
to create spaces where people can connect,
commune,
and collaborate.
If folks leave
our events
with
a bit
of joy
or
a fresh perspective—we’ve done our job.”
