Kirsten Dellinger is the new associate dean for diversity and inclusion for the College of Liberal Arts. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole MIss Digital Imagaing Services
OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi faculty member Kirsten Dellinger will be continuing her passion and dedication to making UM a more diverse and inclusive place in a new role, beginning Aug. 15.
Dellinger has been named associate dean for diversity and inclusion at the College of Liberal Arts. She joined the faculty as a professor of sociology in 1998 and has served as the chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology for 11 years.
“In this role, I will be dedicated to making the University of Mississippi a place where students, faculty and staff feel safe and supported in their work,” she said. “I’m looking forward to working closely with the many other individuals and offices on campus who are dedicated to this goal.”
She hopes to work closely with other department heads and faculty members to identify need across campus related to diversity and inclusion and help determine creative solutions.
“My own research focuses on how workplace culture plays a role in creating and challenging workplace inequalities,” she said. “The chance to work on these issues at a collegewide level is very exciting to me.”
Over the last 20 years, Dellinger has served on several college and university committees to address challenges related to these issues.
“Dr. Dellinger brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our office after successfully serving 11 years as chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology,” said Lee Cohen, dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
“In addition to leading the college’s efforts to ensure a welcoming and productive environment for all of our faculty, staff and students, she can also help us with virtually everything that comes into our office. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to add Dr. Dellinger to our administrative team.”
Dellinger earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and her master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology at the University of Texas. In her graduate studies, she began researching gender and sexual inequality in organizations and places of work.
These subject areas have continued to be the focus of her research and teaching. Her findings have been published in dozens of academic journals and publications.