Khuram Hussain, vice president of equity and inclusion and professor of Education Studies, announced in early March that he will step down from his current administrative role on June 30 and return to the classroom as a full-time faculty member in the fall.
The college sent an email to the community on March 25 in which they acknowledged the uncertainty facing higher education, providing updates and basic guidelines for dealing with these threats. The college also announced the distribution of the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s functions to various other areas for at least the next 18 months. Six of the programs and departments currently listed as under the office’s purview will be moved, leaving the office’s long-term role on campus uncertain.
The Anderson Freeman Center, the Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, Prism Center for Queer and Trans Life, and the Education for Equity teams will be transitioned to the supervision of Student Affairs, according to the email, which was signed by Interim President Steve Snyder, General Counsel Hannah Ross and Executive Vice President and Provost Michelle McCauley. The Office of General Counsel will now oversee the Civil Right/Title IX office and the Disability Resource Center.
Hussain told The Campus that he is resigning from his current administrative position for personal reasons, a point Snyder had emphasized in the original announcement email as well.
“My spouse recently received a critical medical diagnosis that has required me to reprioritize important aspects of my life,” Hussain wrote in an email to The Campus, explaining his reasons for stepping down. “My decision is largely shaped by that reality.”
Hussain also mentioned that it has been a long-term goal of his to return to being a full-time faculty member.
This transition comes at a time when Middlebury faces an ongoing antisemitism investigation, however, amid broader turmoil in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) offices around the U.S. The University of Pennsylvania removed much of the content from its main Diversity and Inclusion webpage in February, while the University of Michigan last week shuttered its DEI office that had long been considered a national model in higher education.
In March 2024, Middlebury received a communication from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) following a complaint related to antisemitism and has been cooperating with the ongoing investigation. On March 10, 2025, Middlebury was one of 60 institutions to receive a follow-up letter indicating that the investigation would be continued under the current presidential administration.
Hussain acknowledged that any antisemitism reports affect the entire Middlebury community but added that staff members responsible for equity and inclusion at the college play a significant role in supporting efforts to report incidents of harm and discrimination.
“Over the past two years our office has actively sought ways to support students impacted by antisemitism by holding impact circles, expanding our Community Bias Response capacity and moving forward with a climate assessment on antisemitism alongside a climate assessment on Islamophobia,” he wrote.
He expressed that the equity and inclusion work ahead should continue to center on the guiding principles outlined in the Middlebury community’s action plan, which he described as fundamentally based on the advancement of Middlebury’s educational mission.
“Middlebury is uniquely situated to build upon years of deep commitments by faculty, staff, students and institutional leaders to foster greater access, inclusion and full participation,” he wrote. “We need to hold space for each other’s stories; listen and respond with humility and curiosity — to ensure our institutional values and commitments are modeled in our practices.”
Serving as vice president during a time of global and national uncertainty, Hussain acknowledged the challenges of his tenure but noted that the Middlebury community remains committed to fostering inclusivity and care for its members.
“I am grateful for the ways equity and inclusion practitioners showed up to offer spaces of mourning and celebration, dialogue and repair as well as the hundreds of hours our educators committed to inclusive skill building for faculty, staff and students,” he wrote.
Hussain shared that despite the transition, he hopes that Middlebury will continue to take into account the needs of its diverse communities and make genuine change on their behalf.
“I recall a moment during a community dialogue, when a student shared that they ‘feel seen and valued, but it’s not enough,’” he wrote. “It matters that we acknowledge our community’s needs and support one another with empathy. It matters that we demonstrate regard for one another by revising policies and changing behaviors.”
Hugo Zhang '28 (he/him) is a News Editor.
Hugo previously served as an Online Editor. He intends to major in Economics and Geography. He enjoys cartography, traveling, and history. Last summer, he studied at Sciences Po Paris and traveled across Europe. He has also conducted research on ethnic minority policies, economic transformation, and urban planning in Northeastern China, also known as Manchuria.
