Dr. Clyne Namuo Appointed Chair, Peer Corps Committee on Diversity, Higher Learning Commission

Friday, September 3, 2021
Dr. Namuo with Phoenix College Students
Dr. Namuo with Phoenix College Students - Classroom

Dr. Clyne Namuo, Phoenix College (PC) Interim President, has been appointed chair of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Peer Corps Committee on Diversity.  The HLC was founded in 1895 as one of six regional organizations accrediting higher-education institutions in the United States. 

The HLC aims for its peer reviewers to be representative of the students, faculty and staff at its member institutions. HLC formed the Peer Corps Committee on Diversity in 2015 to address this need.

HLC President Barbara Gellman-Danley says, “At a time when institutions themselves are increasingly being called on to promote diversity, HLC has a responsibility to do the same to ensure the quality of our evaluation, advice and guidance.” The Diversity Committee aims to increase the numbers of peer reviewers to reflect the ethnic and racial diversity within HLC’s 1,000-member institutions. The criteria for accreditation by which HLC determines whether an institution merits accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation can be read here.

“I am excited for the opportunity to lead this critical work at HLC. We have set an ambitious agenda related to the continued diversification of the peer corps who do the important work accrediting colleges and universities. The dedicated members of the diversity committee will be working alongside HLC staff to ensure that every team of peer reviewers are equipped with an appreciation of a diverse, multicultural society and globally connected world (core component 1.C) along with an equity lens that promotes inclusive and equitable treatment of diverse populations (1.C.2),” said Dr. Namuo.

As a leader at PC, Dr. Namuo is uniquely positioned for this new role, with his past experience as chair of the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) Asian Pacific Islanders Association. PC's founders envisioned the College as a model of inclusion, and it continues to be a place of diversity, equity and access. PC’s focus on diversity includes providing services and establishing partnerships to serve opportunity youth, refugee and immigrant populations, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Black, African-American, Hispanic and Latino.

Additionally, PC established the Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Committee, which works to intervene in unfairly balanced situations and widen the scope of belonging for people. The Committee hosts various engagement activities, including book, film, and panel discussions, working with College leaders to examine policies and practices to expand equity, inclusion and diversity for PC students, faculty and staff.

PC also has a Committee on American Indian Initiatives, Programs and Projects (CAIIPP), which is hosting a series of workshops called Implementing Indigeneity, examining how colonial thinking, and its opposite, indigenous thinking, have historically impacted most civilizations. Attendees have the opportunity to learn about the implications for expanding indigenous innovation.

To learn more about PC’s commitment to Equity, Inclusion and Diversity, visit the Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Committee webpage here:

https://www.phoenixcollege.edu/employees/equity-inclusion-and-diversity….

To learn more and to register for the Implementing Indigeneity workshop series, visit:  https://www.phoenixcollege.edu/Indigeneity.