Franklin A. Tuitt, who has over two decades of higher education administration experience, has been named Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Connecticut. He will officially begin his duties in July.
Tuitt has been a member of the University of Denver faculty since 2004 and was that school’s Chief Diversity Officer from 2015-19. Since last September, he has been a visiting scholar at the Echo Center for Diversity Policy at The Hague, Netherlands. Tuitt is the inaugural visiting scholar at the Echo Center and delivers lectures, facilitates training, and conducts research in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the Netherlands and to post-secondary institutions in Europe.
“My decision join the UConn family was made easy for me as I saw a strong alignment with the priorities of this role and my administrative and academic experiences,” says Tuitt. “UConn has committed leaders across the campus, very engaged student advocates and allies, a talented group of committed faculty and staff, and numerous centers, institutes, and programs all invested in helping the school continue on its journey to being a more inclusive and affirming campus environment, where all members of the community feel a powerful sense of belonging.”
In his most recent position at Denver, he was responsible for addressing diversity and equity matters and oversaw the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, which includes the Interdisciplinary Research Institute for the Study of (In)Equality, and the DU Latino Center for Community Engagement and Scholarship.
In 2019, he received the National Association of Chief Diversity Officers in Higher Education Individual Leadership Award in recognition of “outstanding contributions to research, administration, practice, advocacy, and/or policy, and whose work informs and advances understanding of diversity and inclusive excellence in higher education”
“This is an essential position for any university, but especially for a great public university seeking to ensure a welcoming and vibrant intellectual environment for all of our students, faculty, and staff,” says UConn President Thomas Katsouleas. “Reporting directly to me, Frank will serve as the university’s main strategist for efforts to define, assess, and promote diversity, inclusion, and opportunity at UConn and UConn Health. The value of diversity to a university cannot be overstated, but nor can it be merely an objective often discussed but never achieved.”
At UConn, Tuitt will develop programs and coordinate activities to support the recruitment and retention of faculty, students, and staff from diverse backgrounds. He will also work with University units responsible for programs in support of a campus climate that is free of discrimination and harassment.
Tuitt first came to the University of Denver as an assistant professor in the Morgridge College of Education and later served as the director for the Higher Education program until leaving the college to become the Associate Provost for Inclusive Excellence. He began his professional career with positions at Wesleyan, Harvard, and UMass-Boston.
Tuitt earned his undergraduate degree in human relations from Connecticut College in New London in 1987 and has both a master’s and doctorate from Harvard School of Education in administration, planning and social policy with a concentration in higher education.
Tuitt is a Boston native of Caribbean descent and is looking forward to being closer to family and friends throughout New England.
