Alexis Abernethy Named Chief of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Dr. Alexis Abernethy, Associate Provost for Faculty Inclusion and Equity and Professor of Psychology, has been named Chief of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In her previous role, Dr. Abernethy focused her diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on faculty-related matters such as best practices around curriculum development and classroom interactions. In her new role, she will broaden her scope to include students and staff. Dr. Abernethy will retain her professorial responsibilities within the School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy.

“Fuller Seminary has greatly benefitted from Alexis’s strategic efforts to add new, fresh, and diverse perspectives to our curricula and syllabi,” said Ted Cosse, Chief Operating Officer. “It is now time to further leverage her skills to drive diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the seminary, in the full spirit of FULLER NEXT.”

In her new role, Dr. Abernethy will advance Fuller Theological Seminary’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence in partnership with the Senior Leadership Team, Ethnic Center Directors, Diversity Council, staff, faculty, and students. In collaboration with these stakeholders, she will identify and address barriers to inclusion and equity within Fuller, including historical and current barriers such as racism, sexism, and ethnocentrism, that have contributed to the marginalization of our underrepresented populations.

Dr. Abernethy will also advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the recruitment and retention processes of students and faculty, and will continue to champion changes and resources to ensure syllabi content and teaching approaches reflect a more culturally informed perspective. She will also collaborate with senior leaders and upper level managers to build their own and their team’s capacity related to diversity, inclusion. To these ends, Dr. Abernethy will liaise with the Diversity Council, help coordinate the efforts of the Ethnic Centers, and serve on the Senior Leadership Team.

“We are committed to delivering indispensable formational education for diverse Christian leaders everywhere,” said Mark Labberton, President of Fuller Seminary. “Accordingly, diversity, equity, and inclusion are deeply embedded in our FULLER NEXT strategy. We are very blessed that we have someone of Alexis’s experience, passion, and competence to help lead us in the implementation of this essential component of our strategy.”