Search Advocate Pilot Program
About the Search Advocate Program
The Pilot
In September 2021, UNLV established the Search Advocate Pilot Program, a two-year initiative designed to support the search and hire process for academic and administrative units. The advocate program had three priorities:
- Diversify candidate pools.
- Ensure equitable practices and treatment of all parties participating in the search process.
- Ensure compliance with university search and hire policies and procedures.
Modeled after Oregon State University’s (OSU) Search Advocate Program, UNLV partnered with OSU to train search advocates and serve as consultants during the program’s development and implementation.
Continuation of Search Advocacy at UNLV
The search advocate pilot program was a success, and will become a permanent program at UNLV.
As of October 2023, the program will be led by the Division of Diversity Initiatives (DDI). In the coming months, DDI will partner with Human Resources to revamp the program and launch it campus-wide. While this work is underway, all search advocate operations are currently paused and DDI will announce when the program resumes.
What is a Search Advocate?
A search advocate is an external committee member who serves as a consultant/participant and advances inclusive excellence by:
- Asking questions to help committee members test their thinking
- Identifying and promoting practices that advance diversity and social justice
- Minimizing the impacts of cognitive and structural biases.
“As external committee members, advocates are able to explore assumptions, norms, and practices that an internal member might not question. The search advocate plays a vital role in position development, recruitment, screening, interviews, references, evaluation, and integration of the new faculty or staff member into the institution. In partnership with the search chair, search committee members, and hiring official, the search advocate affirms a commitment to inclusive excellence.”
Search advocates are:
- Committed to equity, inclusion, diversity, and justice
- Fair and open‐minded with good judgment
- Curious, thoughtful, persistent, and respectful
- Experienced collaborators, strong communicators, and skillful facilitators
- Able to cultivate a blame‐free environment to discuss implicit bias
- Respected and trusted by colleagues/peers
- Experienced in search and selection
- Able to set aside personal interests to work for the good of the college/unit and the university
- Available/willing to devote the necessary time to learning, committee participation, and consultation
- Able to maintain confidentiality throughout the search process
How Search Advocates Impact a Search
Search advocates participate in a faculty search in the following ways:
- Collaborates with the search committee to draft an unbiased job description and evaluation criteria
- Helps identify places to post the job and assists with promoting the job ad
- Provides feedback and resources to prepare for candidate evaluation
During the search:
- Disrupts and minimizes the impacts of cognitive and structural biases
- Advances inclusive excellence by asking questions to help committee members test their thinking
- Serves as a liaison with the HR Recruitment Coordinator to ensure compliance with university procedures
After the search:
- Collaborates with the search committee to implement a welcoming and supportive transition plan for the new employee
Pilot Program Participants: UNLV’s Search Advocates
During the two-year pilot program, UNLV announced a call for participants each spring to recruit a diverse group of faculty to serve as search advocates for faculty searches. Academic and administrative faculty were eligible to apply. Applicants needed to have experience serving on a search committee at UNLV, be in good disciplinary standing, and be committed to ensuring equitable and inclusive search and hire practices. Selected participants underwent advocate training during the summer months and served as ex-officio members of 1-2 faculty searches occurring outside of their home unit during the academic year. Below is a list of faculty who served as Search Advocates during the pilot program.
Year 1: (2021-2022)
- Ashley Pistoria, Assistant Professor, Surgery (School of Medicine)
- Benjamin Burroughs, Assistant Professor, Journalism (College of Urban Affairs)
- Bernie Hurlburt, Associate Professor, Clinical Sciences (Dental School)
- Bonnie Brucato, Associate Director, Career & Professional Development (Lee Business School)
- Bryan Blankfield, Assistant Professor in Residence (Honors College)
- Daniel Sanders, Systems Administrator (Office of Information Technology)
- Jaci Batista, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering & Construction (College of Engineering)
- Jason Flatt, Assistant Professor, Social & Behavioral Health (School of Public Health)
- Joe Bynum, Chair & Professor, Theater (College of Fine Arts)
- John Starkey, Senior Academic Advisor, Academic Advising (Lee Business School)
- Manoj Sharma, Professor, Environmental & Occupational Health (School of Public Health)
- Mari Soto-Valdez, Business and Finance Coordinator (Law School)
- Marni Dow, Assistant Director, Student Involvement (Student Affairs)
- Monika Neda, Associate Dean & Professor, Mathematics (College of Sciences)
- Nicole Espinoza, Online Program Coordinator (School of Public Health)
- Nicole Hudson, Associate Director, Workforce Development (Office of the Executive Vice President & Provost)
- Patrice Leverett, Assistant Professor, Student Counseling and Personnel Services (College of Education)
- Peter Navarro, Chief Compliance Officer, Dean’s Office (School of Medicine)
- Rebecca Paulson, Senior Software Developer (Business Affairs)
- Rebecca Rogers, Assistant Director, Gear-Up (Center for Academic Enrichment & Outreach)
- Rei Serafica, Associate Professor, Nursing (School of Nursing)
- Ron Blaze, Chief Compliance Officer, Administration (School of Medicine)
- Sebern Coleman, Director, Educator Prep (College of Education)
Year 2: (2022-2023)
- Alejandro Chacon, Internship Coordinator, Career Services & Workforce Development (Career Services)
- Bryan Blankfield, Associate Professor in Residence (Honors College)
- Bryan Hilbert, Director (Disability Resource Center)
- Cass Shum, Associate Professor, Hospitality & Organizational Behavior (Hospitality College)
- Everett Duke, Director, Foundation Relations (UNLV Foundation
- Jaci Batista, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering & Construction (College of Engineering)
- Jason Flatt, Assistant Professor, Social & Behavioral Health (School of Public Health)
- Joe Bynum, Chair & Professor, Theater (College of Fine Arts)
- John Starkey, Senior Academic Advisor, Academic Advising (Lee Business School)
- Kathy Schreiber, Business Manager (Business Affairs)
- Lisa Menegatos, Dean (Honors College)
- Marni Dow, Assistant Director, Student Involvement (Student Affairs)
- Maria Roberts, Professor & Graduate Coordinator, Educational Psychology, Leadership, & Higher Education (College of Education)
- Monika Neda, Associate Dean & Professor, Mathematics (College of Sciences)
- Nicole Espinoza, Online Program Coordinator (School of Public Health)
- Rebecca Paulson, Executive Director for Administration & Division Shared Services (Business Affairs)
- Rebecca Rogers, Director, Gear-Up (Center for Academic Enrichment & Outreach)
- Reggie Bailey, Project Management (Administrative Technology Services)
- Sarath Kraus, Director, Systems Change Management (Business Affairs)
- Sebern Coleman, Director, Educator Prep (College of Education)
- Stefani Relles, Associate Professor, Educational Psychology, Leadership, & Higher Education (College of Education)
- Su Kim Chung, Head of Public Services (UNLV Libraries)
- Yaa Obeng, Special Assistant to the Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer (Office of Diversity Initiatives)
Acknowledgments
The Search Advocate Pilot Program was conceived by the Office of the Executive Vice President & Provost and the Division of Human Resources, and managed by the Division of Human Resources. The Program was developed and implemented in partnership with the Division of Diversity Initiatives, the Faculty Senate, the Academic Faculty Committee, and UNLV’s academic colleges. The program recognizes the College of Sciences, particularly the departments of Geosciences and Life Sciences, which participated in a preliminary pilot that informed the design and structure of the two-year program.
From 2021-2023, the Program was guided by an advisory committee including faculty, staff, and administrators. The committee assisted with the program’s development and provided feedback on program activities. Members included:
- Savannah Baltera, Former Administrative Faculty Committee Chair
- Harriet Barlow, Executive Director, The Intersection, Office of Diversity Initiatives
- Lori Ciconne, Executive Director, Sponsored Programs
- Janet Dufek, Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs, Provost’s Office
- Rimi Marwah, Chair, President’s Advisory Council
- Tarryn McGhie, Co-Chair, Administrative Faculty & Classified Staff Subcommittee of the Anti-Black Racism Task Force
- Michelle Sposito, Director of Title IX & Compliance.
A special thanks to all program partners and search advocates. The program would not have happened without your support and commitment.
Contact
For questions, contact Yaa Obeng, Special Assistant to the Vice President for Diversity Initiatives and Chief Diversity Officer, at yaa.obeng@unlv.edu.