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Shirley M. Ramirez will leave Lafayette for personal and family reasons on March 31 and return to Middlebury College.
The first person to serve in the position of vice president for institutional planning and community engagement at Lafayette, Ramirez has led the College’s diversity efforts since January 2009. She came to Lafayette from Middlebury, where she had served as the chief diversity officer.
President Daniel H. Weiss said, “I am grateful to Shirley for her energy, vision, and contributions in helping the College establish diversity as a central value and cultivate an environment that fosters social and intellectual pluralism and a racially and ethnically diverse academic community.”
“I look forward to working with Shirley during her remaining time at the College and wish her every success in the future.”
“Lafayette is a wonderful institution, with unparalleled faculty commitment to student achievement and deeply held values in the areas of diversity and community engagement,” Ramirez said. “I am honored to have served this great college, even for a short time, and especially value my experience with the students. I regret that my personal and family circumstances will not allow me to continue my work here. I thank President Weiss for his unwavering support and for his deep commitment to this important role at the College.”
Weiss said, “We remain committed to attracting and supporting a diverse campus community and to promoting, celebrating, and sustaining this commitment to diversity in all areas of the College. As we undergo a transition with Shirley’s departure, we will continue our efforts to enhance diversity, including the campus climate study and faculty and student recruitment initiatives, and continue our engagement with our neighboring community.”