UF will have its first diversity, equity and inclusion librarian at George A. Smathers Libraries.
Twanna Hodge said she will help the libraries dig deeper into diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and social justice.
Hodge said she will take over the libraries’ diversity committee as its liaison and start her position in early February. Her duties will include working on training and organizational development activities, doing presentations on personal bias and cultural humility and working with the human resources office to improve hiring and recruitment policies, she said.
She said she will look to support certain underrepresented groups and let the libraries know how they can better support them and their needs.
“There are things that they’re doing really well, but there are things that they could work on,” she said.
Hodge was selected largely based on her passion and approachability, said Brian Keith, associate dean of administrative services and faculty affairs for George A. Smathers Libraries. He said he anticipates that Hodge will connect the libraries with important external dialogues and opportunities.
Keith said the library faculty said hiring Hodge will bring organizational growth and change to the functions of the libraries.
“Twanna Hodge is a great hire,” Keith said. “I am confident she will do many great things at UF.”
Despite her position, Hodge said she hopes there will be no need for jobs like hers in the future. She said diversity, equity and inclusion should be embedded into everything automatically as opposed to an afterthought.
“I think now more than ever, people understand that we all have biases,” she said. “We’re all a reflection of the society we grew up in.”
Hodge said she is excited to join the Gator family, and is glad UF has seen the need for a position like this. She said she hopes to turn the page on tolerance and move toward complete acceptance.
“Diversity is our survival,” she said.
Twanna Hodge
