Penn State’s vice provost for educational equity leaves role after nine years
Penn State’s vice provost for educational equity is moving to a different role this week and an interim vice provost will take the reins.
After serving in the role for nine years, Marcus Whitehurst is moving from his position as vice provost for educational equity to an associate clinical professor at Penn State, a news release from the university states. Whitehurst will also serve as a special assistant to the interim executive vice president and provost to “provide continued administrative guidance and support,” the release states.
He’ll move to the new role on July 31. SeriaShia Chatters, associate vice provost for educational equity, will begin in the role in an interim capacity on Aug. 1.
In the release, Whitehurst said it has been an “honor” to serve Penn State in this role.
“Witnessing the growth and evolution of our community over the years has been immensely rewarding,” Whitehurst said. “I am so proud of the accomplishments of my colleagues in the Office of Educational Equity to create a more welcoming environment across our campuses. I am confident Penn State will continue to build on this momentum, embracing equity in all its forms and fostering a culture where everyone feels they truly belong.”
Whitehurst led the Office of Educational Equity of 13 units and 69 staff members that are dedicated to fostering equity and a welcoming environment at Penn State. He is also a member of the President’s Council and the Provost Leadership Council.
Prior to his time as vice provost for educational equity, he was the assistant vice provost for Educational Equity for seven years. He was also previously the director of the Multicultural Resource Center for nearly a decade. He has taught courses in African and African American studies and Language and Literacy Education Studies at Penn State, the release states.
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Tracy Langkilde applauded his many years of service and wished him luck in his next step.
“His tenure as vice provost has shaped the University’s commitment to inclusive excellence and he has been a cornerstone in advancing equity and fostering a sense of belonging for students, faculty, and staff across our campuses. We are deeply grateful for Marcus’ leadership and vision, which have set a strong foundation for continued progress,” Langkilde said.
Whitehurst has led “transformative efforts” toward creating a welcoming environment at Penn State, the release states, and has been a leader in advancing equity. The release highlighted several achievements and accomplishments Whitehurst has reached, including creating and implementing strategic planning efforts for equity and leading initiatives to expand resources and services for different populations at the university.
He serves on several national committees and has won numerous awards during his tenure, including ones for leadership, service and commitment to equal opportunity.
Chatters, the soon-to-be interim vice provost for educational equity, said she’ll build on the foundation Whitehurst has laid.
“Stepping into this role is an honor,” Chatters said in a separate news release. “It has been a pleasure to work with Dr. Whitehurst over the years, and I am committed to building on the strong foundation he has laid and to continuing our team’s work to foster equitable learning environments for all members of our University community. I look forward to working closely with faculty, staff, students and partners across Penn State to continue to bring DEIB to the forefront of all we do.”
Langkilde said Chatters brings a “unique perspective.” She’s been with the university since 2013, the release states, and was named associate vice provost for educational equity this year.
“I’m thrilled Seria will be taking on this critical role. She is an exceptional leader and brings a unique perspective and background as an educator, researcher and administrator,” Langkilde said. “Seria has dedicated her career to creating inclusive and welcoming learning and working environments for students and employees and cares deeply about our community. I am confident that she will bring a collaborative and creative approach to continuing to advance our DEIB priorities at Penn State.”
Chatters will be the first Black woman to hold the role.
Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said that despite leadership changes and the national landscape, the university will not waiver in its commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive campus for everyone.
The university has been criticized in recent years for what some say is a lack of commitment to diversity and inclusion on campus. This past semester a group of professors and graduate students held three read-ins and delivered an open letter to Bendapudi stating they’re “sick and tired of the lack of progress toward racial justice at Penn State under your leadership.”
The group also referenced the Center for Racial Justice, which was proposed by former Penn State President Eric Barron before Bendapudi canceled it in 2022.
There’s also been confusion surrounding the future of the Multicultural Resource Center, which is dedicated to offering college counseling and educational services for diverse undergraduate students. Although the director of the center said it was closing, Whitehurst disputed that and said they were instead “exploring ways to have greater impact and enhance student success with an existing program” in the MRC.
The first day of classes for Penn State’s fall semester is Aug. 26.
