University of Richmond Announces Monica M. Smith as Vice President for Inclusion and Belonging

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — The University of Richmond will welcome Monica M. Smith as the vice president for inclusion and belonging, effective July 1. This role will help advance the University’s strategic priorities related to belonging and community. 

Smith is an experienced and accomplished leader, who has worked in higher education administration for nearly 25 years. She currently serves as associate vice president for equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging at the Universities of Wisconsin System Administration where she leads 13 universities in this work. She previously served as the first vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Augustana College, a private liberal arts school in Illinois. She is also actively involved with the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, and participated in the organization’s inaugural cohort of senior leaders focused on understanding inclusion and belonging efforts specific to higher ed.

“Monica’s leadership will enhance our ongoing and significant work to strengthen the sense of belonging and community at UR and galvanize additional efforts,” said University of Richmond President Kevin F. Hallock. “I look forward to working with Monica and so many others on our campus who are deeply committed to cultivating a relentlessly welcoming community.”

“I was drawn to UR’s emphasis on inclusion and belonging and especially impressed by the ways everyone on campus within many different schools and departments have come together to identify and meet the needs of the community,” said Smith. “The level of commitment and strong foundation for this important work at UR is clear, and I’m thrilled to see how I can continue to help build, refine, nurture, and grow these efforts.” 

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