Two Native American professors, including one of the few Native Americans who will be on a business school faculty, will join Fort Lewis College for the fall 2019 semester.

The additions come as the campus recommits to the principle of diversity after the adoption of a new strategic plan.

Joslynn Lee, a member of the Laguna and Acoma pueblos in New Mexico and a member of the Navajo Nation, will join the faculty of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. Lee graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from FLC.

Carma Claw, a Navajo, will join the faculty of the School of Business and Administration. Dean of the School of Business Administration Steve Elias said Claw will be one of only a handful of Native American business professors in the country.

“Working to increase the number of faculty who share the life experiences and backgrounds of our students is an important component of student success,” President Tom Stritikus said about increasing the number of minority faculty members.

The FLC Marketing and Communications Department said it was attempting to get a count of minority professors on campus, but it had not provided numbers as of Thursday night.

Jesse Peters, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, said, “An important facet of the new FLC strategic plan is to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in our campus community. As part of that initiative, we are working to increase diversity when hiring faculty and staff whenever possible.

“FLC is a unique college because of the diversity of the student body,” Peters said. “Adding more diversity within faculty and staff will also serve our students in important ways. Interacting with different perspectives and learning about differing experiences prepares FLC students for successful employment in an increasingly complex and shifting world.”

According to the Fort Lewis College Strategic Plan, one of five initiatives is to improve the campuswide approach to inclusion, equity and diversity.

According to the strategic plan, “This initiative entails reviewing all hiring, onboarding and development practices for faculty and staff, as well as tenure and promotion criteria, and the modification of all practices and criteria as appropriate.”

parmijo@durangoherald.com