Mizzou Appoints Law Prof|to Oversee Diversity

COLUMBIA, Mo. (CN) - One day after the University of Missouri's two top administrators resigned amid student demands for racial equality, the university named an interim vice chancellor to tackle racial affairs on campus.

Chuck Henson on Tuesday was named Interim Vice Chancellor for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity effective immediately. He already is associate dean for Academic Affairs and Trial Practice in the MU School of Law.

"We're pleased that Professor Henson has agreed to serve in this very important and crucial role at our university," University Provost Garnett Stokes said in a statement. "We're looking forward to working with him as we continue to make Mizzou an inclusive and welcoming community for everyone who teaches, works and studies here."

University System President Timothy M. Wolfe and Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin resigned on Monday, after protests that Wolfe had done little if anything after several racist incidents on campus. The student protests drew national headlines when black members of the Missouri football team announced Saturday night they would not play until Wolfe resigned or was fired.

Loftin resigned after nine deans wrote a letter demanding his ouster.

Along with the racism issues, the deans were upset with the university's attempt this year to scale back tuition waivers for graduate students and strip them of health insurance subsidies. The university reinstated the subsidies and agreed to leave the tuition waivers in place for a year.

Henson has been with the university since 2009. His academic scholarship focuses on Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination. He has taught continuing legal education courses focusing on employment discrimination.Henson received his bachelor's degree from Yale University and his law degree from Georgetown University.

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