In the Office of Multicultural Affairs resides a woman who is equally known by the sound of her laughter as she is for her work with campus diversity — Director Katrice Albert.
Albert was recently named as the new interim vice provost of equity and diversity.
Risa Palm, the executive vice chancellor and provost of academic affairs, said Albert officially will take the position on July 1.
“She will bring a record of great success and energy to the position,” Palm said.
Palm said the current interim vice provost of equity and diversity, Mary Evelyn Baszile, will return to retirement.
“A year ago she came out of retirement to take the position,” Palm said. “When Dr. Albert takes over [Baszile] will go back to retirement.”
Palm said Albert has the right personality for the job, and she is excited to have Albert join the office.
“LSU has a commitment to diversity,” Palm said. “To have someone in the provost office with this responsibility ensures a more comfortable climate for students, faculty and staff members and reinforces the Flagship Agenda.”
ShaJuana Carriere, an anthropology sophomore and OMA student worker for the past two years, described Albert as “hard-working and committed to diversity and improving student life.”
“Her promotion is well-deserved, but I will miss hearing her laughter in the office,” Carriere said.
Albert, a native of New Roads, has been working with OMA for more than three years.
“I began working in the office on September 10, 2001 — the day prior to the Sept. 11 tragedy,” she said.
Albert said she immediately began dealing with multicultural issues following the attacks.
“The next week we held a forum and panel discussion with international students,” she said. “It was an eye-opening experience. The LSU community was willing to be vocal about issues concerning race and religion and their impact on the campus community.”
Albert obtained her undergraduate degree from Xavier University, masters from the University of Southern Mississippi and Ph.D in counseling and psychology from Auburn University.
“I’ve always had a commitment to understanding differences and multiculturalism,” she said. “But I wasn’t always sure I would end up doing diversity work.”
Albert said her job at OMA is to guide the University in initiatives concerning campus diversity as well as issues of recruitment and retention.
“My new role will encompass those responsibilities and shift to include other strategic plans dealing with issues such as budgeting and tenure,” she said. “I am very honored to be given the opportunity to serve the University through this position.”
Albert said she enjoys the variety her current job brings and interacting with students, staff and faculty members.
“I feed off the energy of the human experience, and the LSU family feeds my soul in that way,” she said.
Albert said she views diversity as an organizing factor to highlight all the differences a person brings to the table.
“This includes race, gender, sexual orientation, ability status, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and geographical standpoint,” she said. “Encouraging the sensitivity to work with these differences is needed to learn about yourself and to diminish stereotypes we have of others.”
Albert said making a conscious effort to learn about those “least like ourselves” has real world applications.
“We are in a global marketplace and a global economy,” she said. “It’s important to have experiences with people different from you so you can be efficient and effective in the workplace and your everyday lives.”