The Opportunity Development Center, Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt's Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Office was officially named The Opportunity Development Center (ODC) in 1978. Kenneth U. Jordan was the first Director of the Center. Prior to this date, the responsibility for equal opportunity/affirmative functions was carried out by four individuals. Thomas W. Todd was the Equal Employment Officer in 1969. Vanderbilt's first Affirmative Action Plan was approved in 1969 by the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. By 1970, the titled had changed to Equal Employment Opportunity Officer and Ronald C. Marston held the position. The title changed to Opportunity Development Officer and Walter Murray held the position from 1972-76. Meredith Goodwin became acting Opportunity Development Officer in 1976 and served until Ken Jordan took over in 1977. The University's first Title IX review was done under Ms. Goodwin. The reporting structure of the Officer changed from the Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs to the President's Office in 1977. The office relocated from the Baker Building to Building E-1 (renamed Franklin Building) on West Side Row in 1977. In 1984, the reporting structure changed to the Chancellor's Office. The Franklin Building housed the office until 1991. In 1991 the ODC moved back to the Baker Building.

The following are highlights of ODC events and activities:

1978: Ken Jordan became the Director of the ODC
Patricia Pierce appointed first Assistant Director
Campus individuals appointed to serve as Disability monitors
Section 504 Self Evaluation completed

1979: ODC is designated as office responsible for providing assistance for persons with disabilities

1980: Affirmative Action Supervisory Training Programs began
First sexual harassment policy is disseminated to the university community

1981: Patricia Pierce promoted to Director of the ODC
James Wallace appointed Assistant Director

1982: First Edition of the Equal Opportunity Update newsletter published

Go to top of page

1983: ODC moves to 1st floor of the Franklin Building
Joann Mitchell appointed Assistant Director
ODC co-sponsors Equal Employment Conference with EEOC

1984: First sexual harassment brochure produced jointly with Women's Center

1985: Joyce Matthews appointed first Coordinator of Disability Services
Patricia Pierce appointed to Mayor Fulton's Advisory Committee for Handicapped Persons
First Disability Simulation Exercise held on campus

1986: Gale Pinkston appointed Assistant Director of ODC
Disability Simulation Exercise highlighted in The Chronicle of Higher Education

1987: Telecommunications device (TDD) installed at ODC
First Affirmative Action Awards Ceremony held

1988: Project Excel initiated to assist with on the job training for people with disabilities
Inauguration of University Series of Valuing Diversity (USVD) to promote the University's commitment to diversity and equal opportunity
Vanderbilt named Employer of the Year by Goodwill Industries
ODC co-sponsors Sexual Harassment Conference with U.S. Department of Education

1989: ODC co-sponsors second Equal Employment Conference with EEOC

1990: Campus accessibility guides and maps designed and published
Vanderbilt hosts the National Association on Handicapped Student Service Programs (AHSSPPE) conference
Michael Miller appointed Coordinator of Special Services
Burt Augst appointed Administrative Assistant

Go to top of page

1991: ODC moves from the Franklin Building to the Baker Building
Anita Jenious appointed Assistant Director
Raquel Howard appointed Compliance Coordinator
Jeff Abernathy appointed first Disability Services Assistant
Vanderbilt co-sponsors Tennessee women in higher education annual conference, "Problems or Opportunities: Creative Responses for Women in Higher Education"

1992: Patricia Pierce given June Anderson Award from Women in Higher Education in Tennessee (WHET)
Michael Miller receives Commodore Award
Robin Calloway fills Disability Services Assistant position
USVD features Bill Miller, Native American Artist in Residence

1993: Carla James became Compliance Coordinator
Danette Watkins appointed office manager
Burt Augst promoted to Compliance Analyst
The ODC co-sponsors Naomi Wolf lecture with Project Dialogue
Patricia Pierce receives Cable's Promote Women Award
Love Smothers, a student at Fisk University, joined the staff as an INROADS intern.
USVD co-sponsors Lin Inlow lecture with Women's Center, Black Cultural Center, Project Dialogue, and Student Services.

1994: USVD co-sponsored speaker Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., former special assistant to President Kennedy, and Celia Morris, author of Bearing Witness: Sexual Harassment and Beyond--Everywoman's Story.
USVD sponsored speaker Barbara Pagano whose topic was "Capitalizing on Gender Differences"
Patricia Pierce participated in an educational trip to China with disability advocates
Sara Ezell replaces Robin Calloway as Disability Services Assistant
Terri Robertson replaces Carla James as Compliance Coordinator

1995: Michelle McGriff becomes Assistant Director for Compliance
Michael Miller promoted to Assistant Director for Disability Services
Tiffany Taylor new INROADS Intern
JuLeigh Petty becomes Disability Services Assistant
Michelle Hubbard becomes Office Manager
ODC receives JFK Center's Leadership Award for "dynamic leadership in fully including students, faculty, and staff with disabilities in the life of the University and in educating the wider community."
Patricia Pierce attends the Fourth World Conference on Women in China

Go to top of page

1996: Laura Milling replaces JuLeigh Petty as Disability Services Assistant
ODC co-sponsors Gene Mitchner, "American's funniest sit down comic" (People magazine)
USVD sponsors "Issues of Age in the Workplace," a conference on age issues. Rebecca Bundon and Catherine Fyock are the keynote speakers.
USVD sponsors Judge Dana LaMon (administrative judge with visual impairment)
ODC celebrates Tenth Anniversary of Affirmative Action Awards

1997

The ODC hosted the 19th annual conference of the Southeastern Consortium of EEO/AA Officers.

Laura Milling replaced JuLeigh Petty as the Disability Services Assistant.

The ODC celebrated its 20th Anniversary during the Affirmative Action Awards program.

Kenneth U. Jordan, the first director of the ODC, was guest speaker.

The ODC co-sponsored speaker Michael Kimmel, professor of sociology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

The ODC co-sponsored with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities the Disability Forum for Employers.

The ODC co-sponsored the annual conference for Women in Higher Education in Tennessee held at MTSU.

1998

The ODC supervisor’s EEO/AA training program was revised and renamed Alphabet Soup: EEO/AA/ADA for Managers and Supervisors.

Patricia Pierce presented a workshop on sexual harassment at the Winds of Change international conference in Sydney, Australia.

Sara Ezell replaces Michael Miller as Assistant Director for Disability Services.

Jennifer Duck replaced JuLeigh Petty as Disability Services Assistant.

Linda Irvin replaced Michelle Hubbard as Office Manager.

The University’s EEO/AA statement was revised to include nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Walter Murray, Jr., the University’s first Opportunity Development Officer in 1971, passed away April 22nd in Lynn, Massachusetts.

1999

Anita Jenious returns to the ODC to serve as Associate Director.

Laurie Sparks replaced Jennifer Duck as Disability Services Assistant.

Harriett Boglin was hired as Assistant Office Manager.

Patricia Pierce served as Conference Chair for the Association on Higher Education and Disability Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia.

Patricia Pierce presented a workshop on sexual harassment at the Seventh International Interdisciplinary Congress on Women in Tromso, Norway.

The Affirmative Action Awards program title was changed to Affirmative Action and Diversity Initiatives Awards Program.
Chandra Hyde hired as new INROADS intern

2000

The ODC presented Chancellor Wyatt an engraved aviator clock for his eleven years of support for the Affirmative Action Awards Program.

The University’s sexual harassment policy was incorporated in a new University policy titled, Anti-Harassment Policy.

Former Assistant Director for Disability Services, Michael Miller passed away on June 20th. In honor of Michael’s service to the University and ODC, a plaque recognizing his contributions was placed in the ODC library.

Patricia Pierce attended the Geneva 2000: World Forum on Social Development in Geneva, Switzerland and presented a paper on sexual harassment.

The ODC co-sponsored the annual Women in Higher Education in Tennessee conference held at TSU.

The ODC sponsored the Nashville Industry Liaison Group meeting at Vanderbilt. Carol Gaudin, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Regional IV Director and Larry Stanley, OFCCP District Director were guest speakers.

Jolene Bohm replaced Laurie Sparks as Disability Services Coordinator

Tiffany Taylor, former INROADS intern hired as Compliance Assistant

2001

Chancellor Gordon Gee participated in his first Affirmative Action Diversity Initiative Awards Program.

Vanderbilt was co-sponsor of the International Athena Conference held in Nashville. Patricia Pierce served on the Conference Planning Committee.

2002

Ashley Hultman hired as new Disability Services Assistant

Lyn Roberson replaced Linda Irvin as Office Manager.

Burt Augst retired from Vanderbilt and Vahid Khairollahi was hired as Compliance Analyst.

Patricia Pierce inducted into the YWCA’s Academy of Women of Achievement

Anita Jenious elected Chair of the Nashville OFCCP Industry Liaison

Audra Lewis hired as new Disability Services Assistant

Allen Pahmeyer Joins ODC as a part-time Compliance Specialist

2003

Jennifer Corbit hired as new Assistant Office Manager

Chandra Hyde former INROADS Interm hired as Compliance Representative

Colin Quill hired as new Disability Services Assistant.

Pat Pierce wins the ATHENA Award

Go to top of page

Opportunity Development Center
P.O. Box 1809, Station B
Nashville, TN 37235
(615) 322-4705 (V/TDD)

This site is best viewed with Netscape 2.0 or greater.
Created by Vanderbilt University Publications & Design.
Copyright 1997. Updated 11-19-97 by webmaster..