Lehigh University Appoints New Officer to Advance Institutional Equity and Justice

Appointment Aligns with Global Sustainable Development Goals

Lehigh University has announced the appointment of Brigid Benicasa as the new Equal Opportunity and Title IX Officer. This strategic appointment reinforces the university’s commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment, directly supporting several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The core function of the Title IX Officer is to ensure the institution prevents and responds to gender-based discrimination, harassment, and misconduct, a primary target of SDG 5.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: By appointing a dedicated officer to uphold federal and university policies, Lehigh strengthens its institutional framework for accountability, due process, and justice, which is fundamental to SDG 16.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The role is critical to guaranteeing a safe and non-discriminatory learning environment, which is a prerequisite for providing inclusive and equitable quality education for all members of the university community.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The officer’s mandate to address all forms of discrimination and bias directly contributes to the goal of reducing inequalities within the institution.

Professional Profile of Brigid Benicasa

Ms. Benicasa brings extensive experience in civil rights and education law to the university. Her professional background demonstrates a deep commitment to the principles of equity and justice.

1. U.S. Department of Justice: Served for six years as a Senior Trial Attorney in the Educational Opportunities Section of the Civil Rights Division.
2. Higher Education Experience: Previously held the position of Title IX Investigator for the University of Washington Mary.
3. Comprehensive Expertise: Possesses ten years of experience across civil rights, education, family and children’s law, in addition to work in public service and non-profit sectors.

Mandate and Responsibilities

In her new capacity, Ms. Benicasa will be responsible for the university’s adherence to critical federal and institutional policies. Her primary duties include:

• Ensuring compliance with Title IX, Title IV, and other relevant regulations.
• Overseeing the university’s response to reports of sexual harassment and misconduct.
• Managing the resolution of discrimination and bias incidents.

Institutional Context

This appointment fills a leadership position that has been vacant since April 1, following the departure of the previous Title IX coordinator. During the interim period, the role was managed by Kayleigh Baker of TNG Consulting. Ms. Benicasa’s permanent appointment, effective Wednesday, re-establishes stable and dedicated oversight for these critical university functions.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article, which discusses the appointment of a new Equal Opportunity and Title IX Officer at Lehigh University, connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on equality, justice, and safe environments within institutions.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The core responsibility of a Title IX Officer is to address sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment and misconduct, which directly aligns with the goal of achieving gender equality.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The role involves upholding federal and university policies, ensuring due process, and providing a mechanism for justice for individuals who have experienced discrimination or harassment. This strengthens the university as an accountable and just institution.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: Ensuring a safe, inclusive, and non-discriminatory environment is a fundamental prerequisite for quality education. The work of the Title IX officer contributes to creating a learning environment where all students can thrive without fear of harassment or bias.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the officer’s responsibilities described in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The article states the officer’s role pertains to “discrimination and bias incidents.” This directly supports the target of ending discrimination within the university community.
   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. The officer’s responsibility to handle “reports of sexual harassment and misconduct” is a direct effort to eliminate forms of gender-based violence within the educational sphere.

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The article highlights that the officer’s responsibility is “to adhere to federal policies adhering to Title IX, Title IV and other university related policies.” This demonstrates the promotion of the rule of law and the creation of a formal system for access to justice within the institution.
   • Target 16.B: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development. The appointment of an officer specifically to oversee and enforce policies against discrimination and harassment is a clear action toward this target.

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.A: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. By addressing “sexual harassment and misconduct, discrimination and bias incidents,” the officer’s role is integral to creating the safe and inclusive learning environment described in this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article, being an announcement, does not provide quantitative data. However, it implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that could be used to measure progress:

• Existence of a dedicated officer and office: The article’s main subject, the appointment of an “Equal Opportunity and Title IX Officer,” is itself an institutional indicator of commitment to enforcing non-discriminatory policies (relevant to Targets 16.3, 16.B, and 4.A). The fact that the university filled this role after a vacancy shows a continued commitment.
• Number and type of reports handled: The statement that the officer’s role “pertains to reports of sexual harassment and misconduct, discrimination and bias incidents” implies that the number and nature of these reports are key metrics. Tracking these reports would be a direct indicator for measuring the prevalence of such incidents and the effectiveness of response mechanisms (relevant to Targets 5.1 and 5.2).
• Adherence to legal and institutional policies: The officer’s duty “to adhere to federal policies adhering to Title IX, Title IV and other university related policies” implies that compliance audits and the proper application of these policies are indicators of progress towards ensuring the rule of law and equal access to justice within the university (relevant to Target 16.3).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thebrownandwhite.com