Second New Equal Opportunity and Title IX Investigator Hired by University

The Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services has appointed Sheriah Dixon as an Equal Opportunity and Title IX investigator. Dixon’s appointment is the second of two new investigator positions that have now been filled to expand the office’s capacity for handling complaints relating to sexual violence and sexual harassment. Melanie Cuevas-Rodriguez was appointed in May.

Sheriah Dixon

Dixon’s work will support University efforts to promote a safe, diverse and inclusive work and educational environment. In addition to investigating Title IX complaints, she will investigate and coordinate responses to complaints of discrimination and harassment and ensure compliance with Equal Opportunity policies and federal, state and local regulations. Dixon, who is currently the acting director of the Office of Residence Life and Student Conduct and assistant director of the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards at Onondaga Community College (OCC), will begin her new role July 16.

“We are pleased to welcome Sheriah to our staff as we strengthen our efforts in working with the University community to ensure a campus culture of respect, safety and equity,” says Sheila Johnson, associate vice president and chief Equal Opportunity and Title IX officer for the University. “Sheriah’s experience working with students and her background in Title IX matters will be an important asset in service to the campus and the University’s values of diversity and inclusion.”

In her role with the Office of Residence Life at OCC, Dixon provides leadership and direction for the residence life program; supervises professional staff, residence hall directors and resident advisors; and implements programming and activities that foster a positive living-learning environment, diversity, mutual respect and student retention. Within the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, Dixon, who began as coordinator in 2013 and was named assistant director in 2015, works closely with Campus Safety to coordinate the college’s investigations into allegations of sexual and discriminatory harassment, including sexual assaults; investigates Title IX matters and complaints of alleged discrimination and harassment; creates educational workshops on the student conduct process, as well as other programming; and provides training opportunities for faculty and staff on the student conduct process, among other duties.

“I am honored to join the Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services in the work of creating a campus environment that promotes inclusion, access and opportunity for all its members,” Dixon says.

Prior to her time at OCC, Dixon was an assistant residence director with Syracuse University’s Office of Residence Life, in which she served as a hearing officer for disciplinary matters and consulted with the residence director or central office director regarding appropriate sanctions. She also mediated a range of student conflicts, handled emergency situations, and supervised a staff of resident advisors and main desk assistants.

Dixon earned an associate of applied science degree in criminal justice and a bachelor’s degree in criminal investigation at SUNY Canton and a master’s degree in social work at SU.