BUSINESS PEOPLE: USF promotes staffer in Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Darren L. Gambrell has been promoted to associate director for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus.
Gambrell has been interim director of the office since the summer, along with his other duties as assistant director of student services in the Office of Multicultural Affairs on the Sarasota-Manatee campus. He has worked in student services since 2003, when he was still a student.
Gambrell said one of his first tasks would be to revive the Chancellor Advisory on Diversity and Inclusion Council to include representation from each department and entity on the Sarasota-Manatee campus. The council will develop relevant programs and trainings and advise on needed policies, practices and procedures.
When he was named interim director, Gambrell organized a series of listening tours with students, faculty and staff to learn about challenges, ideas and more related to DEI and how he could support DEI efforts on campus.
In April, Gambrell was recognized for his work on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. He received an Inclusive Excellence Award for making outstanding contributions to the university in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Manish Agrawal, quality assurance supervisor at FCCI Insurance Group in Sarasota, recently received the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation while serving as class spokesperson at the annual Conferment Ceremony in San Francisco, California.
The CPCU is a professional credential earned by individuals specializing in risk management and property-casualty insurance. About 1,500 people worldwide receive the designation each year.
Agrawal was one of only two conferees chosen from among hundreds of applicants to be a speaker at the Class of 2022 Conferment Ceremony. He was selected after submitting an essay and completing a competitive interview process.
CPCU candidates typically take 24-36 months to complete the coursework and pass eight exams. Agrawal earned his CPCU designation in just 16 months while also completing the challenging Project Management Professional Certification in December 2020 and the Project Management Institute Agile Certified Practitioner in February 2021.
Agrawal joined FCCI in May 2021 after working as an FCCI contractor for three years. A native of India, he has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in computer science from Visvesvaraya Technological University in Belgaum, India.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Promotion in USF diversity office, FCCI supervisor earns designation
