Penn’s newly opened Center for Civil Rights announced its leadership on Wednesday.
According to a Sept. 23 email to the University community, Deborah Frey will lead the center alongside designated leader and subject-matter experts Michele Rovinsky-Mayer, Majid Alsayegh, Steve Ginsburg, and Michael Athy. The University established the CCR in June to consolidate civil rights resources, simplify the reporting and resolution of complaints, and maintain compliance with legal requirements.
In the message authored by Frey and Vice President for Human Resources Felicia Washington, Penn described the CCR as a “one front door approach” for community members to receive civil rights resources and support.
“Now, the CCR team will be able to address your concerns in a coordinated, consistent manner, or connect you with other appropriate support and resources across the University,” the email read.
The center unified three formerly separate Penn offices — the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, the Office of the Associate Vice President for Equity & Title IX, and the Office of Religious and Ethnic Interests — under a single administrative structure.
Now, the CCR is organized into three subject-matter areas of responsibility: equal opportunity, sex and gender-based discrimination and harassment, and religious and ethnic interests.
Frey, who previously worked in OREI, will spearhead CCR’s work as associate vice president and special advisor to the president.
Rovinsky-Mayer, Alsayegh, and Ginsburg will all continue to advance their previous work in Title IX and religious and ethnic interests. Athy has joined Penn as Executive Director of Equal Opportunity.
According to the University, the CCR is also working to create “a shared physical home” located in the Franklin Building meant to be “a welcoming and accessible space” for the Penn community.
The center also plans to partner with campus organizations such as Restorative Practices @ Penn, Student Intervention Services, Special Services, Community Standards and Accountability, Penn Violence Prevention, and the Office of the Ombuds. It will work closely with the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, the Office of General Counsel, and other University leaders.
“We look forward to continuing this work together to strengthen a Penn community grounded in dignity, fairness, and respect,” the email concluded.
Senior reporter Amy Liao covers student life and can be reached at liao@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies philosophy, politics, and economics and cinema and media studies. Follow her on X @amyliiao.
