Pamela Nolan Young
Pamela Nolan Young has been appointed to the newly created role of director for academic diversity and inclusion at the University of Notre Dame. Young, who received her juris doctor degree from the Notre Dame Law School, brings more than 25 years of experience to the University in the areas of diversity and inclusion, equal opportunity, education and law.
As a member of the University’s Provost Office staff, Young will coordinate the academy’s diversity and inclusion efforts, with an eye toward enhancing Notre Dame’s faculty climate.
Her work will focus on expanding the University’s diversity and inclusion training for faculty and integrating such training into new faculty orientation. She will also provide leadership to colleges and departments on implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives, and facilitate recruiting efforts for under-represented populations into faculty, postdoctoral and graduate student positions.
“The desire to bring together diverse voices and perspectives is at the heart of what Notre Dame stands for,” said Thomas G. Burish, the University’s Charles and Jill Fischer Provost. “I am so pleased to welcome Pamela back to Notre Dame to lead us in this mission-critical area and to ensure we are both purposeful and effective in the ways we seek to foster an environment where all may flourish.”
Most recently a private consultant on equality, privacy and diversity issues for colleges, businesses and individuals, Young was previously the director of institutional diversity and equity at Smith College. There, she administered the school’s affirmative action plan, maintained oversight of diversity and equity policies, served as chair of the President’s Diversity Council and supervised the Office of Disability Services.
She also worked as the human resources director at North Shore Community College for five years. Among her responsibilities in that role, she acted as the school’s affirmative action officer; conducted professional development for faculty, staff and students on diversity and affirmative action; and designed diversity events.
Before working in higher education, Young served in a variety of positions in Springfield, Massachusetts, where she was a practicing attorney, assistant district attorney and assistant city solicitor.
Along with her law degree from Notre Dame, Young earned a bachelor of arts degree from Dartmouth College and a master of educational leadership degree from Salem State College. Young also attended the Institute for Management and Leadership Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar and the Society for Human Resource Management, and holds her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.
A prominent presenter on issues of equality, diversity and inclusion, Young has served in various community leadership roles, including as a member of the New England Resource Center for Higher Education Multicultural Affairs Think Tank and on boards for organizations involved with cultural enrichment, educational advancement, abused women and children, food pantries and housing discrimination.
Contact: Sue Lister, director of media relations, 574-631-7916, sue.lister@nd.edu