In the university’s latest efforts to combat racism on campus, St. Thomas hired Kha Yang as the first-ever Vice President of Inclusive Excellence in July. Yang is the first Hmong American member of President Julie Sullivan’s cabinet.

The VP of inclusive excellence will help further the short and long term goals listed in the Action Plan to Combat Racism. These include having a anti-racist curriculum development, recruiting and retaining students and staff of color and reworking the financial aid process so that a St. Thomas education is more financially accessible for students of color.

“I’m really happy to be here, it’s a really exciting time at the university,” Yang said.

Yang has previously worked in corporate diversity and inclusion. Her most recent work was at the Federal Reserve bank in Minneapolis where she managed diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and initiatives.

“For over 20 years, I have aligned my work with aspects of social justice,” Yang said.

The VP of Inclusive Excellence oversees the Action Plan to Combat Racism. Sullivan announced the plan in October 2018, following an incident in Brady Hall where a racist slur was written on a student’s door. The action plan involves taking steps to make St. Thomas more inclusive and raise awareness of racism on campus.

“My position will serve as the nexus of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across campus,” Yang said.

In the short term, Yang hopes to gain a feel of where St. Thomas is by using statistics and observations.

“One of the immediate things would be to develop processes so that I can learn [about St. Thomas], and that folks can be able to lend their voice to shaping the overall vision for St. Thomas in the next 3-5 years,” Yang said.

The university is planning to conduct an audit and a campus climate survey. An audit is done by contracting an outside company to directly look at the infrastructure of the campus and how inclusion is involved.

“A climate survey would be more about who are the constituents. We are looking at staff students and faculty and want to know how people feel in their every day routine at St. Thomas,” Yang said.

The last climate survey was done in 2013, and Yang feels the university is “overdue” for another one.

With a new voice in the president’s cabinet, some staff members are excited about the increasing awareness of being a more diverse and inclusive space.

Student Diversity and Inclusion Services Program Manager Dia Yang has a positive outlook on the new position.

“I think diversity and inclusion should be a priority for our campus in order for it to thrive,” Yang said.

Students are also looking for their role in making the university more of a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Junior Gracie Lissick hopes that this will be a positive step in taking action against racism as well as other forms of discrimination.

“We need to do more of breaking down toxic masculinity and white privilege,” said Lissick.

Abby Sliva can be reached at sliv7912@stthomas.edu.