Davidson College has appointed Chloe Poston, Ph.D., a vice president at Dartmouth College, as the college’s inaugural Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Poston, whose first name is pronounced kloh, serves in a parallel role at Dartmouth and will join Davidson in mid-July.
“Our Statement of Purpose makes clear how we value diversity,” Davidson College President Doug Hicks said. “It is part of education. We learn alongside each other, and we learn from each other – gaining from our classmates’ and colleagues’ experiences and perspectives. Dr. Poston, in this new role, will help us build up a campus community that values the worth and dignity of students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds.”
The new position and Poston’s appointment will build on existing efforts across campus to lead Davidson in its work on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“This role is exciting because Davidson College already is doing the work,” Poston said. “The members of this community are dedicated to recruiting students and employees with all life stories and experiences. These differences, whether ethnic group or perspective, can enhance classroom debate, critical thinking and shared understanding. I’m looking forward to helping individuals build relationships and take advantage of the rich tapestry of the Davidson community.”
Poston’s appointment follows a national search, led by Isaacson, Miller, that included more than 150 candidates from inside and outside higher education. Her work across colleges and universities, the private sector and the federal government has earned praise for her consensus building and for her record of forging partnerships with other organizations and developing valuable training programs.
At Dartmouth Poston serves as vice president for culture, belonging and strategic engagement. She developed a strategic plan to align institutional diversity, equity and inclusion efforts through new initiatives, expanded collaboration, and enhanced accountability structures.
“Dr. Poston has been tireless in championing diversity and inclusion across Dartmouth,” said Shontay Delalue, senior vice president and senior diversity officer at Dartmouth. “She brings the analytical mind of a scientist and the compassion of a humanist to the important work we do.”
Poston held a similar role at Brown University, as assistant vice president for strategic initiatives. Poston worked in policy and program leadership roles at nonprofit and professional organizations for scientists, including as an American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow at the National Science Foundation. She holds a doctoral degree in bio-analytical chemistry from Brown and worked as a post-doctoral scientist at pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Clark Atlanta University.
Poston’s mission is to continue to acknowledge the realities of a community with members from all backgrounds and to help guide the college’s ongoing dedication and effort toward a sense of belonging for all. At Davidson, Poston will connect and strengthen existing DEI efforts across campus to make the sum greater than the whole, helping to foster a culture of free expression, mutual respect, and hope.