Jo Ann R. Fielder -- a community college administrator with 26 years of experience in human resources, personnel, finance and management -- has been selected for the newly created position of Assistant Dean of Equal Employment Opportunity/Diversity. She began her new position Aug. 5.

Fielder, most recently Director of Staff Support Programs at Coast Community College District, will be responsible for the duties of the former affirmative action officer, Betsy Hiteshew, who retired in June. In addition, she will be responsible for employee and management training programs, harassment prevention and other issues.

The new position, at the Assistant Dean level, reflects a level of commitment to equal employment opportunity rarely seen at a community college.

Fielder -- a retired U.S. Army Finance and Personnel Officer who served in the U.S., Korea, Germany, Panama, Honduras and other countries -- has held a variety of positions at community colleges, including Foothill-DeAnza and Peralta. In her position at Coast, she was responsible for the coordination of all aspects of the district's sexual harassment program, civil rights compliance issues, wellness and safety, staff development and budget, and fiscal and personnel management in human resources.

J.R., as she is known by many, received her master's of education from South Carolina State University and her bachelor's in English from Southern University and A & M College in Baton Rouge, La. She has been a Big Sister in Indiana and is featured in the August issue of Orange County Woman magazine for her foster parenting of teenage girls. She has two adult children and one grandson.

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