Two UI Diversity and Civil Rights Leaders Promoted to Permanent Positions

MOSCOW, Idaho — University of Idaho President Chuck Staben has promoted two UI employees to permanent leadership positions of units in which they have been interim leaders.

Yolanda Bisbee will serve as the chief diversity officer as well as the executive director of Tribal Relations. Bisbee has served as interim chief diversity officer for the last year and the executive director of Tribal Relations for two years.

Bisbee is a Vandal, earning her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at UI. She has worked at UI for 25 years and is the first Nez Perce woman to serve on the President’s Cabinet.

Erin Agidius will serve as the director of the Civil Rights and Investigations unit. She will oversee complaints of discrimination, including Title IX and will provide assistance in student code of conduct investigations.

Agidius is also a Vandal, earning her bachelor’s and Juris Doctor from UI. She has worked at UI seven years. She has served as the interim director of human rights, access and inclusion for the last year.

“Both of these women bring a level of expertise that is impressive and hard to match,” Staben said. “I look forward to working with them as they continue to grow these important offices in support of UI’s mission and strategic goals.”

The promotions and structure of the Office of Diversity and Office of Civil Rights and Investigation come from a recommendation from the President’s Diversity/HRAI/Title IX Structure Task Force which has reviewed the office structure, positions and needs for several months.