Fatimah Stone and Michael Kelly have joined UD's Office of Equity and Inclusion to provide education, guidance and support to students, faculty and staff on the issue of sexual misconduct.

Office of Equity and Inclusion

UD appoints staff to address sexual misconduct cases

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11:50 a.m., July 6, 2015--The University of Delaware’s Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) has reaffirmed its commitment to bringing greater awareness of and attention to sexual misconduct with the appointment of two staff members who will provide education, guidance and support to students, faculty and staff. 

Fatimah R. Stone has been appointed senior associate director and Michael J. Kelly has been named associate director, special investigations. 

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Stone and Kelly will address incidents including sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence and domestic violence, as outlined in a new policy implemented by the University on July 1 in response to federal law requirements.

“Michael and Fatimah bring a vast array of experiences within higher education, law enforcement, human resources and the legal profession,” said Susan Groff, director of institutional equity and University Title IX coordinator.  “They will be vital to keeping our campus safe by thoroughly and fairly investigating cases and providing students, faculty and staff the help and resources they need.”

As announced today, the process for investigating student cases has changed from a full hearing procedure to one-on-one guidance from a trained professional. Stone and Kelly will serve in this role, charged with ensuring a prompt, fair and neutral process for all parties involved in sexual misconduct cases—whether students, faculty, staff or visitors—and will provide assistance to victims of sexual misconduct and gender discrimination. 

Stone and Kelly are responsible for ensuring those involved in investigations understand the investigatory process, their rights and responsibilities, and how to access other resources as necessary. They also are charged with ensuring a well-documented investigative process as well as updates and tracking of all Title IX incidents, collaborating as needed with on- and off-campus resources, including law enforcement and victim services, in resolving complaints.  In addition, Stone and Kelly will educate the campus on the laws surrounding sexual misconduct and how to respond appropriately to an incident.

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits gender-based discrimination in the University’s programs and activities, and applies in sexual misconduct cases that include sexual harassment, sexual violence, stalking and intimate partner violence.  

Fatimah Stone

Stone previously served as a human resources consultant at the University of Notre Dame, where she was responsible for conducting staff investigations in response to employees’ Title VII discrimination and sexual harassment complaints filed with the university’s Office of Institutional Equity. 

She holds a law degree from Tulane Law School in New Orleans and spent seven years practicing law in New Orleans.

“I am pleased to be part of an institution that is committed to working hard to safeguard its community,” Stone said. “Sexual assault, intimate partner violence and stalking can be traumatic and can impact every part of a survivor’s life. I am committed to making sure individuals in these kinds of cases are treated justly and with the utmost care and sensitivity so that they can heal and thrive on campus.”

Michael Kelly

As a police officer for more than 27 years within the state of Delaware, Michael Kelly investigated and supervised more than 800 criminal cases, first with the New Castle County Police Department from 1988 until 2007 and then with the Middletown Police Department from 2007 until 2015. His investigations ranged from sexual assaults and homicides to narcotic and internal investigations.  

Kelly holds a bachelor's degree from Wilmington University and has completed postgraduate training at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy.  

“I welcome the opportunity to contribute my experiences at the University of Delaware and to helping more individuals feel knowledgeable and comfortable reporting incidents of sexual misconduct,” Kelly said.

Office of Equity and Inclusion

OEI's mission is to provide leadership and support in creating an equitable and inclusive work and learning environment. The office is responsible for Title IX, non-discrimination, and affirmative action policies and compliance, and educates about services and resources to address concerns of bias, prejudice, harassment and discrimination campus-wide. 

The office presents workshops and programs to encourage the UD community to develop the awareness and knowledge of individuals' differences and similarities. OEI also provides support and resources for complainants during grievance procedures and assists with informal mediation and problem solving in the workplace.  

For more information on OEI, visit www.udel.edu/oei.  To learn more about UD’s sexual misconduct policy, how to report an incident, or access resources and support, visit www.udel.edu/sexualmisconduct.

Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson

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