Andre Burton announces his plan to retire
A message to campus from President Langell:
Dear NEOMED Community:
Please join me in congratulating Andre Burton, J.D., on his plan to retire after 33 years of public service — 11 of which he has spent at NEOMED. Throughout his career, Mr. Burton has been dedicated to improving organizational cultures and advancing resources to create work environments that are diverse, inclusive, equitable and appreciative.
Upon joining NEOMED in August 2012 as the University’s director of diversity affairs, Mr. Burton immediately began work to develop the University’s first-ever diversity strategic plan. He was promoted to executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion in October 2014. With action plans focused on the University’s climate as well as faculty, staff and student engagement, recruitment and retention, he created NEOMED’s Inclusivity Center as well as several initiatives such as the “I AM Diversity” campaign and the Embracing Diversity Series.
Mr. Burton developed and implemented the University’s Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Awards for faculty and staff, and he received an award of his own when he was presented with the 2016 Community Building Award from the NAACP (Portage County Branch). The selection committee noted, “A great deal of the inclusive environment at NEOMED is a direct result of the efforts put forth by Andre.’’
Students and employees often sought Mr. Burton’s advice and counsel as his calming style and extensive experience were evident in his roles as advisor to several student organizations and chief administrator of the University’s diversity council. Mr. Burton also led the creation of the Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino Employee Resource Group and he served as the diversity section lead for the Higher Learning Commission, LCME and CODA accreditation processes.
His commitment to practices and procedures to educate the NEOMED community on sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention resulted in perfect scores from Ohio Department of Education Changing Campus Culture initiative for three consecutive years. Among other contributions, Mr. Burton instituted and facilitated training in diversity awareness, cross-cultural communication and the Safe Space (LGBT) program. He also oversaw the University’s Title IX Office and the Office of Global Engagement.
So, when the position of Vice President for Human Resources and Diversity became available in October 2018, Mr. Burton assumed the interim role before being appointed in March 2019.
Over the last five years, Mr. Burton has led the Office of Human Resources’ expansion of services and infrastructure to address the University’s needs. Such additions included processes for recruitment and selection; staff compensation structure; flexible work arrangements; and the faculty empowerment plan.
Please join me in wishing “Andre” (as he prefers to be called) best wishes on his much-deserved retirement. His last day on campus is October 31.
Sincerely,
John T. Langell
President