College hiring admin to fight ‘culturally insensitive’ artwork

The University of Rochester Medical Center is looking to hire a high-level administrator to promote “culturally sensitive” artwork and to fight “visual microaggressions.”

In a recent job posting, the URMC says it is seeking to fill the newly created position of Diversity and Inclusion Education Director, with responsibilities including the development of an “institutional-wide implicit bias training curriculum” and the creation of “an annual diversity and inclusion series” featuring various speakers.

The director will also consult for the school’s “aesthetics committee regarding culturally sensitive physical space including artwork,” providing advice on issues including “accessibility, gender-neutral space, [and] visual microaggressions.”

Applicants must have at least a bachelor's degree, and extensive experience in the field of “diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency planning and instruction,” the application notes. However, as with similar job openings at other schools, a master’s degree is preferred.

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Middlebury College is also hiring a Director of Diversity Education, who will be paid $61,215 to “facilitate difficult conversations” on issues including “microaggressions, bias, cultural capacity, inclusive pedagogy, diversity hiring practices, etc.”

Although not required, Middlebury hopes that its new hire will also be “someone with an intersectional lens” who can demonstrate “experience in racial justice frameworks and social justice education.” Working knowledge of “restorative justice principles,” a social-justice themed conflict resolution strategy, is also desired.

[RELATED: Clemson offers up to $109k for ‘Director of Diversity Education’]

As reported last month by Campus Reform, the Stanford University Medical School is also hiring a high-level administrator for similar work.

The application, which is still open, indicates that the administrator’s primary responsibility will be to educate professors on issues surrounding “unconscious bias, microaggressions, change management for diversity, and other diversity and inclusion leadership topics.”

Campus Reform reached out to the University of Rochester Medical School, Middlebury College, and Stanford University Medical School for comment, but did not receive responses from any in time for publication.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @Toni_Airksinen