Debra Monk, Title IX Coordinator and Equity Investigator | The Wright State Guardian
Wright State University (WSU) welcomed Debra Monk as Title IX Coordinator and Equity Investigator on Nov. 16. Accepting the position, Monk said, is the result of soul searching and exploring her passions.
“I’ve been working in and around Title IX since the beginning of my career in 1995,” Monk said.
Most notably, Monk was the Associate Dean of Students and Director of Community Standards at the University of Dayton for 18 years.
“Throughout my career, my responsibility for Title IX issues has ranged from serving as a mandatory reporter to managing the process from report to adjudication,” said Monk.
University of Dayton
Prior to accepting the Title IX Coordinator and Equity Investigator role at WSU in November, Monk held multiple positions at the University of Dayton, beginning while in Graduate school.
“I’ve been in Student Affairs since I started college,” Monk said. “I was a Resident Assistant and also served as a Programming Coordinator for students during my undergrad at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and continued in Student Affairs at UD.”
While in Graduate school at UD, Monk was working in Residence Life and it is here where she discovered Title IX.
Monks says that while her passion for work lies in Title IX and related issues, both of her college degrees are unrelated to the work and for some, may come as a surprise.
“Both of my degrees are in Religion,” said Monk. “I found it difficult picking a major. I would take a class and enjoy it, and proceed to change my major. This happened to me three times before I took a religion class and realized I enjoyed the learning in a different manner.”
Monk is currently halfway through a second Master’s degree in Student Affairs but is unsure if she will ever finish it citing age as a determining factor.
Wright State University
Having found her way to WSU in November, Monk is now in charge of keeping WSU Title IX compliant.
“Title IX says that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance,” Monk said.
Monk said that her role was created to investigate and adjudicate reports that violate the university policy “Sex/Gender Harassment and Discrimination”, which includes behavior that violates Title IX.
“In addition to my Title IX duties I serve as the campus instigator for any report of discrimination and harassment based on a protected class,” said Monk.
Protected classes include race, ethnicity, disability and more.
Looking forward, Monk is excited to work with the WSU community and provide services to the best of her ability.
“I’m excited to continue this new chapter at Wright State and look forward to working with the community,” Monk said.
To make a report or receive assistance from Title IX Coordinator and Equity Investigator Debra Monk, email debra.monk@wright.edu or visit 353 University Hall.
Additional information on Debra Monk is accessible by listening to The Raider Report Podcast on all streamable platforms.
