GW created a new office set to open May 1 dedicated to simplifying the discrimination, harassment and bias complaint process, officials announced Thursday.
Interim Provost John Lach and Chief of Staff Scott Mory announced in a community-wide message officials will launch the Office of Equal Opportunity, which will comprise of the Title IX Office, parts of the Equal Employment Opportunity and Access office in GW’s Human Resource Management and Development and the Office of Access and Opportunity, to serve as the comprehensive manager of discrimination, harassment and bias complaints. Asha Reynolds, the current assistant provost and University Title IX coordinator, will serve as the office’s associate vice president for equal opportunity, while Jessica Tischler, the current assistant vice president of EEO and employee relations, will enter the role of assistant vice president for equal opportunity and compliance, per the release.
The office aims to streamline complaint oversight while maintaining the University’s compliance with federal and local civil rights laws, the release states. All staff from the Title IX office will move to OEO, with staff from the EEAO migrating based on their roles.
“OEO is designed to enhance GW’s response to complaints of discrimination, bias and harassment by centralizing the various streams for such complaints, which are currently handled by several different offices,” Lach and Mory said in an email.
The University established OAO last May along with the launch of new anti-discrimination policies following GW’s January 2025 voluntary resolution agreement with the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, where GW committed to centralize its intake, review and referral process of all potential discrimination, harassment and related-retaliation reports.
GW entered the voluntary resolution following investigations into a pair of Title VI complaints alleging anti-Palestinian discrimination and antisemitism at the University. With the agreement, the University committed to evaluating its policies to ensure they meet standards and procedures regarding demonstration and discrimination, while expanding the maintenance of complaint records relating to national origin.
The Office for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement previously housed both OAO and the Title IX office, though officials’ release Thursday moves the two offices to OEO.
The release said the University’s current equal opportunity policies and procedures are not changing — but officials will review them during the University’s policy review process — even though OEO will now assume responsibility for the offices.
Lach and Mory said the creation of OEO comes after Lach and Associate Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement Jordan Shelby West reaffirmed GW’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion this month following student concerns that officials were rolling back DEI initiatives and messaging on campus. Lach and Mory said the creation of OEO will strengthen and support how the University responds to bias and discrimination.
Community members can currently submit discrimination, harassment or bias complaints through a centralized form linked on OAO’s website, which OAO reviews in collaboration with other offices like Conflict Education and Student Accountability, the Office of Faculty Affairs and EEOA. After OAO determines if the complaint falls under GW’s equal opportunity policy, the appropriate office then handles community members’ cases — a process Lach and Mory said in the release creates “confusion” about where individuals should submit their complaints.
OEO will now review each complaint and will forward it to the Office for Faculty Affairs, the Division for Student Affairs or Human Resource Management and Development after the office determines if the complaint falls under the equal opportunity policy. As appropriate, officials will conduct an academic freedom assessment in conjunction with the vice provost for faculty affairs.
“By centralizing complaint management, OEO will consistently and equitably apply GW policies regardless of the role of those involved,” Lach and Mory said.
In addition to supervising the University’s alignment with federal and local civil rights laws, the new office will govern GW’s equal opportunity, Title IX and prohibited relationships with students policies. OEO will also provide supportive services for impacted individuals and initiate policy, prevention education and Title IX training.
