Qiana N. Wilson, who has served as general counsel at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville for more than five years, has been named the new director of the Equal Opportunity Office at the University of Georgia following a national search. Her appointment is effective Jan. 11.
Wilson, who has worked at Georgia College for more than eight years, serves as chief legal adviser to Georgia College President Steve M. Dorman and other members of the executive administration. She also serves as the legal representative on numerous committees at Georgia College, including the Title IX Committee, Clery Committee, Crisis Communication Team and Emergency Management Team.
Wilson earned both a Juris Doctor and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Arkansas. She previously earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Eastern Michigan University.
“This position plays a critical role in ensuring a welcoming and productive educational environment for all our faculty, staff and students,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “I am confident that Qiana, with her strong skill set and broad legal and policy experience, will do an excellent job in the position, and I am looking forward to welcoming her to campus in January.”
The EOO is responsible for UGA’s compliance with federal and state laws dealing with access to employment, enrollment and other programs and services. The office investigates complaints of discrimination and harassment and enforces UGA’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and Sexual Misconduct Policy.
The director of the Equal Opportunity Office is responsible for ensuring the university provides a fair and respectful environment for students, faculty and staff that is free from discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected categories. Areas of responsibility include oversight of education, prevention, investigation and remediation efforts related to gender, race and other forms of discrimination; sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct; athletics equity; and related civil rights investigations. The EOO director also serves as UGA’s Title IX coordinator and Americans with Disabilities Act/Section 504 coordinator.
“I am excited about the opportunity to serve as director of the Equal Opportunity Office at the University of Georgia,” Wilson said. “I appreciate the time and commitment of the search committee and the entire university throughout the search process; the wide-range involvement spoke to the importance of this position within the university community.
“While I see the EOO team currently doing amazing work, I am enthused about the chance to continually move the office forward – in line with UGA’s mission,” she added. “Equal opportunity is vital, and I am grateful for President Morehead’s confidence in me to lead that charge for the institution. I am looking forward to the great work ahead.”
Wilson succeeds Janyce Dawkins, who served as the university’s EOO director for more than eight years before retiring from UGA on Sept. 30. Beth Bailey, UGA’s senior associate general counsel, is currently serving in the interim role.
The search process was overseen by an 11-member committee, led by UGA General Counsel Mike Raeber and assisted by the UGA Search Group. Morehead expressed his appreciation to the members of the committee for their leadership and service in developing an outstanding group of candidates for this important position.