Tiffani Ziemann is leaving her role as Ithaca College’s Title IX coordinator effective Oct. 6, the college announced Sept. 26. Linda Koenig, assistant director for housing services and communications in the Office of Residential Life, will take the role of Title IX Coordinator starting Oct. 9.
After 11 years at the college, Ziemann will take the position of director of leadership education for the fraternity Delta Tau Delta, which has chapters at colleges across the country. She started at the college as the coordinator of judicial and educational programs, then became an area coordinator in the Office of Residential Life.
Ziemann said that her departure from the college is bittersweet, since she has spent over a decade at the college but that she is excited about her new job.
She was the first full-time Title IX coordinator at the college and said that building the office from the ground-up was a challenge. She said that increasing awareness of Title IX and Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Education on campus was the highlight of her time in the role.
“Being able to have been a part of growing awareness and response, and knowing that more students … have access to resources has been an amazing experience,” she said.
Rory Rothman, assistant provost for student life, thanked Ziemann in the announcement for her work with the college.
“I cannot thank Tiffani enough for her dedication, commitment and many contributions to the college over these past 11 years,” Rothman said. “Tiffani will be greatly missed.”
For the past two years, Koenig has served as deputy Title IX coordinator at the college. She has also been a residence director and area coordinator.
“This is a strong interest point for me, so I was super-excited when the opportunity was presented,” Koenig said.
Koenig and Ziemann have worked closely together for years, and Ziemann said that she thinks Koenig has a strong understanding of the position.
Koenig inherits the position in the midst of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. The OCR opened the investigation on Dec. 2, 2016. The investigation was launched after a student accused of sexual assault alleged that the college discriminated against him on the basis of sex and race, according to letters from the OCR sent to the complainant and then-President Tom Rochon.
Koenig said she thinks a lot of work and resources have gone into addressing the OCR’s investigation, and that she is confident that she will continue to respond to the needs that result from the investigation.
Ziemann said it is slightly difficult leaving knowing the lawsuit is still open but that she is unable to time her personal opportunities.
Ziemann shared an announcement Sept. 26 on Intercom saying that the college’s Title IX policies will not change, although the Department of Education has withdrawn several of its standards. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said the Department of Education will be replacing current Title IX procedures put in place by former President Barack Obama that her department has deemed ineffective. The college will continue to meet the standards set by New York State Educational Law 129b, passed in July 2015 and known as “Enough is Enough.”
A farewell reception for Ziemann will be held Oct. 2, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Clark Lounge in the Campus Center.
News Editor Aidan Quigley contributed reporting.
