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Charles named associate director of diversity

by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
Laurine Charles sits at her desk inside a sparsely decorated office on the fourth floor of the Harper Student Center. Surrounding her are several boxes of unopened files, books and other papers that she’s brought over from her work area at the  College of Health Professions. 

A self-described 21st century “renaissance woman,” Charles is like many professionals on campus. She splits her time and duties as associate professor and director of diversity and institutional planning at the College of Health Professions (CHP) and her new role as associate director of the Office of Diversity.

In her role since Nov. 1, Charles will work directly with diversity director Thaddeus J. Bell, M.D., the diversity staff, the Diversity Advisory Council and 
others to focus on key diversity issues and work to improve the quality of student life.

“We feel very fortunate to have Laurine Charles become the associate director of the Office of Diversity,” said Bell, director of the Office of Diversity.

“This is a wonderful opportunity,” Charles said. “Knowing that we support students pursuing careers in health care and in the longrun, provide for the state’s medical needs makes me proud to be part of this initiative. With the support of our campus community, perseverance and persistence, our plans can be realized.”

 In a January meeting with deans from each of the six colleges, diversity and administration discussed minority recruitment for new and matriculating students within their own colleges. The group also helped identify and address the institution’s need for improved minority faculty recruitment, development and other retention strategies. Further discussion helped recognize extramural funding and other supplementary efforts to support many diversity programs. 

“As the state’s primary medical institution, it (recruitment) becomes more of a challenge to us,” Charles said. “It’s important that MUSC create a ‘pipeline’ effect that not only supports undergraduate college students but reaches back to early interaction with middle and high school-aged students. This can be done through increased school district partnerships, access to mentors, shadowing programs and other guidance mechanisms.”

As a faculty advisor in CHP, Charles has organized and led many diversity efforts from training to coordinating the college’s visiting minority scholars program for the past five years. She has also been active in the campus’ mulicultural advisory board. 

She sees herself as a liaison helping various campus groups and hopes to help guide the university’s focus on statewide recruitment efforts especially among African American, Hispanic and Native American populations.

“These groups represent South Carolina's changing population,” Charles said. “Our state needs to be prepared to handle a variety of health care needs from the presence of disparities and cultural differences to challenges for the paying health care consumer. These demands are just some of the reasons why specific individuals are reluctant to consider careers in medicine.” 

Working with Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs John Raymond, M.D., and the campus’ Diversity Advisory Council, Charles will help explore solutions based on a variety of important issues including minority faculty recruitment, increased student scholarships, support for a more cultural campus environment and improved student recruitment. 

“Like elsewhere, there is a tremendous need to train students to handle health care among diverse populations,” Charles said. “It’s important that we continue to make great strides to progress in this area and address these needs.”

Aside from student recruitment, she lists minority faculty recruitment as the most challenging of issues that she is tasked to tackle. With a limited and competitive pool of qualified applicants, MUSC falls in line with other national colleges and universities to attract faculty. Because of this, MUSC and other institutions are looking to more creative methods in recruiting qualified applicants or encouraging alumni to consider roles in academia. Charles is presently reviewing diversity and innovative faculty recruiting programs at Virginia Tech and the University of California systems as resources.

“It’s important that we make sure that we support our faculty with sufficiently relevant resources to help them grow and develop academically,” Charles said.

Diversity relocation, open house set for Nov. 21
Aside from the addition of new personnel, MUSC’s Office of Diversity has a new look and change of location. Last month, the staff moved from their offices at 3 Doughty Street to its new location at the fourth floor of Harper Student Center. The office officially opened in their new location on Nov. 1. 

The move was to help place the program more physically in the mainstream of people, offices and departments the program works continually with including the Office of Student Programs, Office of International Programs and Services and Academic Center for Excellence.

The Office of Diversity will hold an open house for the campus community from 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 21, at the Harper Student Center, Suite 444. 

For information, call 792-2146.
 

Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.