Produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications
An administrator in the Office of Resident Life with experience in diversity and inclusion efforts as well as training programs has been named program manager of TerrapinSTRONG, the University of Maryland’s new onboarding initiative to affirm its mission, culture and values as a diverse, united, proud, respectful, inclusive, accountable and empowered community.
In her new role, Leslie Krafft will lead this program announced by Darryll J. Pines on his first day as president last year. It includes a welcome from Pines; an unflinching overview of the university’s history; reflection and action to affirm its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; and an introduction to its traditions.
Krafft will create an inclusion-focused onboarding curriculum; develop and implement programs to train others in facilitating TerrapinSTRONG onboarding programs within their communities; and consult with colleges, schools and divisions to effectively implement them. Krafft will also support diversity training and education needs within the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, where the position will be housed. This newly created role will report directly to the vice president for diversity and inclusion.
Krafft has served for the past five years as residential case manager at UMD, where she was awarded the Department of Resident Life Pillar of Excellence Award in 2019 and founded, developed and led initiatives on mental health and diversity, equity and inclusion. Among other accomplishments, she developed the Terps Take Care campaign and annual mental health fair, was a founding member of the EmbraceRace initiative, co-led the development of the DEI staff development program for the Department of Resident Life, and initiated the coordinated Mental Health First Aid training program for campus.
Prior to her work at Maryland, Leslie served as director of residence life and housing at the University of Redlands in California. Leslie has a doctorate in educational leadership for social justice from the University of Redlands, a master's degree in school counseling from Youngstown State, and a bachelor of science in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh.
Kraft, who can be reached at lkrafft@umd.edu, will begin her new role on Aug. 30.
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