George Mason College: Mason’s Compliance Workplace Will get Interim Title IX Coordinator And New Title

August 19, 2021

As George Mason University strives to be a national leader in anti-racism and inclusive excellence, some changes have been implemented for the fall semester in line with this goal. Formerly known as the Office of Compliance, Diversity and Ethics, CDE changed its name to Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) to better reflect the university’s vision. Crystal C. Coombes, recently appointed as the Mason’s American with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator, now serves as the interim Title IX coordinator. Both positions are based in the DEI office. Coombes is replacing Title IX coordinator Angela Nastase, who left Mason this month to take up a position at the University of Maryland. Coombes brings extensive experience in ADA and Title IX positions, most recently at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of South Florida. As an interim Title IX coordinator at Mason, she will lead the university’s commitment to creating a learning and work environment that is free from sexual discrimination, sexual misconduct, and sexual harassment. Coombes served as ADA coordinator and related roles at VCU from June 2018 until arriving at Mason. Prior to that, she was Director of Title IX / ADA in the University of South Florida system for three years. She was responsible for Title IX vision, leadership, and compliance for 52,000 students and 18,000 employees. “We are fortunate to have someone with the vast experience of Crystal to take on this role as we find a permanent Title IX coordinator,” said Dietra Trent, DEI interim vice president. “Mason is committed to establishing and maintaining a culture of integrity and shared responsibility that holds each of us to the highest standard, and Crystal will guide that effort.” Coombes earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from VCU in 1983, a master’s degree in education from the University of Virginia in 1987, and a master’s degree in English from National University in 2011. As announced last month, Sharnnia Artis will become DEI’s Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer on September 1st. She is currently Assistant Dean of Access and Inclusion at the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences and the Samueli School of Engineering, both at the University of California, Irvine.