Cheri Lawson
Director for Equal Opportunity Programs, Office of the Provost
Cheri Lawson frequently asks herself, “What can I do to promote an environment of equity and respect for employees in our campus community?” As director for equal opportunity prog
rams in the Office of the Provost, Cheri helps to lead efforts to support the University’s commitment to faculty and staff diversity through training activities and affirmative action compliance. Her work primarily involves developing the University’s affirmative action plans, coordinating and implementing equal opportunity and affirmative action programs and policies and addressing complaints of alleged harassment or discriminatory treatment.
Cheri is a member of the institutional equity and diversity team for the University, lead by the vice provost for institutional equity and diversity and the vice president for human resources. The team provides leadership in creating and implementing campus-wide diversity initiatives in order to promote and enhance fairness, equal opportunity, respect and inclusivity on campus. In 2008, Cheri was instrumental in the implementation of the Web-based "e-learning" program on recognizing and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace to protect the well-being of our community. She also serves on the Princeton Diversity Council, a group of 28 staff members that advises the offices of the provost and executive vice president on diversity-related matters.
Cheri enjoys her work here, she noted, “I get to be proactive at Princeton and help to create a workplace that values diversity.” She continued, “My hope is that the people who come to work here will want to stay because they are treated fairly and with respect.”
Cheri is a graduate of Long Island University and received her law degree from Fordham University. Prior to becoming a Princeton staff member in 2006, Cheri was an equal opportunity specialist for Home Depot USA, an in-house staff attorney for the New York City Board of Education and a private practice labor and employment attorney.
Read more about others who are valuing diversity.
