Office of The President
Alfreda Brown
Interim Chief Diversity Officer
Phone: 585-475-4993
E-mail: axbpro@rit.edu
Commission for Promoting
Pluralism Web site
Alfreda Brown, who has been at RIT since 1987, is the interim chief diversity officer at RIT. Prior to this position, she was chair of the Commission for Promoting Pluralism and the assistant to the dean for administrative and external support in the College of Applied Science and Technology. In her current role, Brown will provide an assessment of diversity over the entire campus for the benefit of the president, and other constituents across campus. The diversity officer is also responsible for influencing the design, development, delivery and measurement of initiatives, strategies and processes as they relate to diversity and inclusion.
Her commitment to diversity at RIT began when she served
for several years as a member of the Commission for Promoting
Pluralism. Brown did a comprehensive study of RIT
in the area of diversity. The report, titled "Achieving
a Pluralistic Society at RIT," is archived in the
RIT Wallace Memorial Library. Brown was the first
chairperson of Staff Council, and has subsequently served
in leadership positions on several institute committees. She
has served as an advisor for a variety of student clubs
and organizations and in a mentorship role
for several faculty, students and staff. An annual
RIT signature event since 1994, Brown created and implemented
a career conference for eighth graders that attend Thomas
Jefferson Middle School.
In addition to RIT responsibilities, Brown has served on many community boards
including several years of service to the Woman's Foundation, Pre Trial Corporation
and Greater Rochester Diversity Council where she currently holds the position
of Chair of the Board of Directors. She served as an RIT Loaned Executive
for United Way of Greater Rochester and has taught leadership seminars for United
Way's African American Leadership Development Program since 1997. In 1997
Brown was presented the prestigious Professional Award by the Rochester Genesee
Valley Club National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women's
Clubs Association for her support of professional women.
Brown is a member of the Rochester Rotary Club; she serves on the boards of
Rochester Hearing and Speech Center, The Advocacy Center and the National
Kidney Foundation. She is the Chair of the Board of Directors for Workforce
Diversity Network; as well as Chair of the Freedom Celebration Committee,
which is a subcommittee of the Rochester/Monroe County Freedom Trail
Commission. In addition, Alfreda chairs the Curriculum Committee for the
African American Leadership Development Program. Brown is the facilitator
and mentor for RITıs AALANA Networking and Career Group as well as
facilitator and mentor for The Professional Mentoring Group for African
American females in the City of Rochester. She also serves as a mentor to
third graders at School #29 in the Pillar of Hope Program.
Brown holds a bachelor's degree from Roberts Wesleyan College, a master's
from RIT and a doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University. Her
dissertation is titled ³Development of an Affirmative Action Resource Manual
for Rochester Institute of Technology².