Former Title IX Coordinator Bindu Jayne resigned from her position at Swarthmore on March 14. In her place, Jill Moffitt will serve as the interim coordinator until a permanent replacement is found. Moffitt currently works for Grand River Solutions, an external educational consulting firm that the college has hired to help with investigations, hearings, and appeals, notably in the disciplinary process related to student activism on campus. Moffitt noted that her role is “very temporary” while the search for a permanent coordinator is underway.
During her tenure, Bindu was responsible for overseeing the college’s review, investigation, and reports of sexual assault and harassment, as well as any gender-based inequity on campus. In an email sent to the college, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Brooke Vick praised Jayne’s contributions: “Bindu came to the College in 2018 and quickly proved to be a strategic, thoughtful, and compassionate member of our community. Throughout her tenure, she made lasting contributions to the College and was a consistent advocate for ensuring that our campus is equitable, safe, and welcoming for all.”
In email communication with The Phoenix, Vick said Bindu resigned from her position to pursue independent consulting opportunities. Although she is no longer a full-time coordinator, Bindu has agreed to continue working part-time to complete any ongoing cases under her purview. In the interim, the college has collaborated with Grand River Solutions to find a temporary replacement.
Vick highlighted Moffitt’s extensive expertise, noting that she has worked with the firm “to identify an interim Title IX Coordinator with significant higher education, student affairs, and Title IX experience and expertise.” Moffitt has worked in Higher Education for 25 years, during which she says she has engaged with students across all aspects of campus life. She has been working in Title IX specifically for fifteen years.
Through Grand River, Moffit is a consultant for college campuses nationwide, managing a team of Title IX coordinators while conducting her own work. She mentioned that her role at the firm “keeps my skills and knowledge current,” enabling her to stay informed about changes in law and policy that affect DEI trends in schools nationwide. However, she says her work in student affairs informs her work “in a way that is transparent and trauma-informed.”
“At my core, I am a student affairs professional who happens to work exclusively in diversity, inclusion, and equity spaces,” she said.
As interim coordinator, Moffitt says she has three main goals: to understand Swarthmore’s policies, learn about student culture, and assist the school in addressing misconduct “in a way that is trauma-informed, accountable, and aligned with a community of care.”
The national search for a new coordinator is supported by a search committee made up of faculty, staff, and student representatives. Once finalists are selected, they will be invited to campus to meet with interested community members, who will have the opportunity to share feedback to the search committee before a final hiring decision is made. Vick hopes that the interview and selection process for a new candidate will be completed by the beginning of June.
