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Professor Petra Bonfert-Taylor has been named associate dean for diversity and inclusion at Thayer School of Engineering, a new role focused on advancing the school’s ongoing and emerging diversity and inclusion efforts.

A longtime advocate for students of color and women in engineering, Bonfert-Taylor will work closely with faculty, staff, students and other partners across campus to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. As part of her new role, she will chair Thayer’s Inclusive Excellence Working Group, which aims to improve recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff, and students and support initiatives aimed at building a more welcoming and inclusive community.

“I am honored and humbled to embark on this extremely important work,” Bonfert-Taylor says. “I join forces with an amazingly dedicated team, and I look forward to advancing Thayer towards a future where every member of our community feels welcome and valued, and where we each have opportunities to learn, teach, tackle research, innovate, collaborate, and rise to our fullest potential.”