University News

Calhoun Named Interim Associate Vice President for Student Services

January 8, 2015

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL -- Rica Calhoun, assistant director of Equal Opportunity and Access (EOA), has been named interim associate vice president for student services, through June 30, according to Vice President for Student Services Gary Biller.

As interim associate vice president for student services, Calhoun will work with the directors of the Multicultural Center (Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, Women's Center and Casa Latina), Disability Resource Center, Career Development Center, Student Publications, Student Legal Services and Student Judicial Programs to provide leadership and establish action plans and goals for these areas. She replaces Earl Bracey, who will retire from WIU June 30 after 36 years of service.

Calhoun has served as the EOA assistant director since June 2011. In this position, she ensures compliance with federal non-discrimination and retaliation laws, including Titles IV and VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, Americans with Disabilities Act and more. Calhoun created the University's Affirmative Action Plan, has conducted legal research, composed legal briefs and assisted with handling state and federal agency complaints. Prior to joining WIU's administration, she was the special assistant to the director at the College of William and Mary Office of Equal Opportunity. She has also worked as an intern for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida, for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia.

"Rica's multifaceted experiences will allow her to provide excellent oversight and leadership of Western's multicultural programs and resources, student legal and judicial programs and more," Biller added.

Calhoun serves as chair of the WIU Affirmative Action Administrative Internship Committee, and is a member of the Gender Equity Committee, University Diversity Council, ADA Advisory Committee and the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Initiative. She is involved in the Macomb community, serving as treasurer of the board for the Samaritan Well shelter in Macomb. She is secretary for the University Park Townhome Owners Association and a member of the PACT Head Start Policy Council. Calhoun is a member of the American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity, the National Association of College and University Attorneys, the Illinois Bar Association and is an ATIXA Certified Title IX Campus Investigator.

She received a juris doctor from the College of William and Mary School of Law; a master's degree in international affairs from Florida State University; and her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Central Florida.

"I look forward to the opportunity to work with these dynamic departments and the students they serve," Calhoun said. "There is amazing work to be done, and I am excited to be part of the team."


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing