HWS News
4 October 2024 Welcoming ODEI Leadership
Welcoming new leadership and staff in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is entering a new semester with exciting changes in leadership and staff to support and engage students across campus. Read more about the appointment of Chevanne DeVaney ’95, P’21, P’23 as the Vice President here.
Renée R. Grant will serve as the Assistant Vice President of Intercultural Affairs and Programs. Grant joined HWS in 2016, serving in roles in the Office of Campus Life and Intercultural Affairs. For four years, she held the Director of Opportunity Programs role. Under Grant’s leadership, HWS welcomed the largest HEOP class in our history for the 2024-2025 academic year. As the Assistant Vice President, Grant will continue her work as Deputy Title IX Coordinator, as a member of the CARE Team and coordinator for the Posse program.
"I’ve always placed students at the heart of everything I do, making their needs, growth and development my top priority,” Grant says. “My new role provides me with the opportunity to deepen that commitment by implementing initiatives that touch a broader spectrum of the student body. I’m particularly excited about the new staff changes, which bring fresh perspectives and a wealth of experience.”
New staff member Chengyuan "René" Guo will serve as the Director of Intercultural Programs and Initiatives, leading programming and operations at the Adams Intercultural Center and the LGBTQ+ Resource Center.
Guo comes to HWS from Kenyon College, where they led inclusion and equity initiatives for all students through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Guo graduated summa cum laude from Denison University and went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Yale University.
“The opportunity to work collaboratively with such a dynamic, engaged community fills me with excitement and purpose, and I can’t wait to see how we can collectively advance HWS’ mission together,” Guo says.
Guo, who also holds a diploma in Congregational Ministry from Andover Newton Seminary and previously served as an assistant Minister at the Dixwell Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ, shares their perspective on the potential impact of intersectional collaborations.
“I believe that when students are encouraged to engage with difference intentionally—whether cultural, ideological or experiential—true learning and personal growth happen. These kinds of transformative experiences will not only shape their academic journeys but also equip them to become compassionate, thoughtful leaders in their communities,” Guo says.
Former Director of the Adams Intercultural Center Alejandra Molina retired from her position this spring. This semester, she returned to the classroom and is teaching a course in the Department of Spanish, Latin American and Bilingual Studies titled, “The Latina Experience.”
