The Opportunity Development Center, Vanderbilt University

Staff

Patricia A. Pierce, Director
Anita J. Jenious, Associate Director for Compliance
Melissa A. Smith, Director for Disability Services
Terri Robertson, Manager, ODC Compliance and Operations
Vahid Khairollahi, ODC Compliance Analyst
Allen Pahmeyer, ODC Specialist
Lyn Roberson, ODC Office Manager
Peter Martino, ODC Compliance Representative
Corinne Lankford, ODC Assistant Office Manager
Sylvia D. Corley-Hix, ODC Compliance Associate

Patricia A. Pierce is the Director of the ODC. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and the Bryn Mawr Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration. She reports directly to the University's Chancellor and serves on the Chancellor's Management Group. Her duties include serving as the University's Title IX and ADA Coordinator; leading the University's efforts toward maintaining a campus environment that is inclusive, pluralistic and free of discrimination; monitoring the University's compliance with federal, state, and local legislation governing nondiscrimination and affirmative action; investigating and mediating complaints of unlawful discrimination for faculty, students and staff; implementing the University's affirmative action plan; designing and conducting workshops and programs on affirmative action, diversity, sexual harassment and disability issues; serving as a liaison with government and community organizations; preparing government reports and certifications that pertain to equal opportunity and affirmative action; and managing a staff of seven full-time and six part-time people.

Anita J. Jenious is Associate Director for Compliance. Ms. Jenious is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee College of Law. Her primary ODC responsibilities include investigating complaints of unlawful discrimination; counseling with individual students and staff concerning discrimination complaints, providing diversity training for University staff; and coordinating the University Series on Valuing Diversity and the Affirmative Action and Diversity Initiative Awards ceremony. Ms. Jenious also represents the University on civic and professional boards and committees in the Nashville community.

Melissa Smith Melissa A. Smith is the Disability Program Director. She received both her B.A. and M.S. degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She has served as assistant director of disability services at MTSU and UT-Knoxville where she has over ten years of leadership experience in student support services, counseling, education, program and project management, staff development, in-service training, and community outreach. Melissa's primary responsibility will be to coordinate and supervise disability services and programs for faculty, staff, and students. She will assist the ODC in monitoring University compliance with local, state, and federal disability laws. She will also assist in investigating complaints of unlawful discrimination and conducting training regarding disability topics. She will be a member of the Return to Work Committee. She will represent the University on state and local committees and organizations involving disability issues.

Terri Robertson is the Manager, ODC Compliance and Operations. She is a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Her responsibilities include reviewing the Self-Audit Reports (SARs) and Position Management Forms; providing instruction and orientation regarding hiring procedures, preparing statistical reports, monitoring progress in work areas where underutilization exists, ensuring that proper documentation of personnel actions is maintained, and coordinate Vanderbilt's efforts to comply with the University's Affirmative Action reporting. She conducts workshops on diversity and communication, sexual harassment, and discrimination law. This position assists with and performs grievance investigations, and serves on various Vanderbilt and Nashville community committees and professional organizations.

Vahid Khairollahi is the ODC's Compliance Analyst. He received both his B.A. and M.S. degrees from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville. His primary responsibilities include the collection, analysis, and dissemination of statistical and textual information used by the ODC staff to carry out the mission of the office. Specific duties include coordinating the compilation and publication of the University's annual Affirmative Action Plan, serving as contributing editor for the Equal Opportunity Update, the ODC newsletter, assisting search committees in obtaining a diverse applicant pool, and ensuring the proper functioning of the ODC local area network and other computer related issues.

Allen Pahmeyer is the ODC's Compliance Specialist. He is a graduate of the University of the South (Sewanee). As Opportunity Development Center Specialist, his primary responsibility is investigating grievances or complaints alleging discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, veterans status or retaliation. He conducts investigations of grievances and complaints arising internally and also complaints originating from external sources such as federal or state agencies. He makes recommendations concerning the merits of these complaints or grievances and, when appropriate, attempts to obtain suitable resolutions.

Lyn Roberson is the ODC's Office Manager. Ms. Roberson is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating office and training activities, supervising student workers, working as the primary administrative support person for the Director, purchasing, monitoring and reconciling of the departmental budget.

Peter Martino Peter Martino is the ODC's Compliance Representative. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Connecticut School of Law. His primary responsibilities at ODC are investigating discrimination complaints and resolving discrimination conflicts. Mr. Martino also counsels managers and staff on equal opportunity and affirmative action compliance, analyzes Vanderbilt University policies and procedures under related laws and government regulations, and coordinates diversity events on campus.

Corinne Lankford is the ODC's Disability Services Specialist. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University where she was also employed in the Disability Services office. Ms. Lankford's responsibilities include assisting with accomodations for students with disabilities and all disability needs during commencement excercises. She works closely with the Assistant Director of Disability Services. She is also responsible for providing administrative support for the Disability Program Director and assisting with testing accomodations.

Sylvia D. Corley-Hix is the ODC Compliance Associate. She has an A.S. Degree from Tennessee State University and a B.S. and M.A. from Trevecca Nazarene University. She has ten years experience in Human Resources. Her responsibilities include analyzing and monitoring the Self-Audit Report (SARs) and Position Management Forms in compliance with Vanderbilt University’s Affirmative Action Plan. She is responsible for the coordination of Alphabet Soup supervisory training program. She serves as the intake person for individuals contacting ODC with complaints and assists with gathering and analyzing complaint information.

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

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