Affirmative Action Director Promoted

Affirmative Action Director Promoted

Sue Guenter-Schlesinger, who has headed up Utah State University’s Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Office since February 1991, has been promoted to assistant executive vice president for Affirmative Action and Diversity.

" Dr. Guenter-Schlesinger provides valuable leadership in our ongoing efforts to create an environment that is inclusive and respectful of all,” said Kermit L. Hall, president. “She helps the university promote opportunities for a wide range of peoples, and her success in doing so is central to the success of the university as a whole."

She will continue to serve as the university’s chief advisor to the president on all affirmative action and equal opportunity issues. In addition, she will now begin reporting directly to Utah State Executive Vice President and Provost Stan Albrecht.(full story) 

Guenter-Schlesinger said this change in reporting will enable her office to work more closely with the Provost Office on faculty issues, as well as continues to be involved with and responsive to staff and student issues.

" This new title is reflective of the university’s strong commitment to the issues of equal opportunity and diversity," she said. "It demonstrates strong interest in ensuring that Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity continues to play a strategic role in university affairs."

The Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity office advises and helps the university community in how to create an environment free of discrimination and sexual harassment. Guenter-Schlesinger said their office takes a proactive approach to create a gender and ethnically diverse community of students, faculty and staff. 

Guenter-Schlesinger received her bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition to implementing anti-discrimination laws and policies, she provides equal opportunity training to administrators, faculty, staff and students on issues including minority and women recruitment and retention.

Prior to coming to Utah State, Guenter-Schlesinger worked as chief of the Equal Opportunity Office for the Headquarters of the U.S. Army in Europe, located in Heidelberg, Germany. During her eight years with that office, she focused on discrimination issues of soldiers and their families, to include off-post discrimination and racial and gender bias. 

She is well known for her work on equal opportunity issues, sexual harassment prevention programs and assertiveness training including workshops on writing skills for the working woman and language and sexism. She received the Army Achievement Medal in 1991 and the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service in 1989. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi.