USU Names New Executive Director for Office of Equity

Utah State University has named Matthew Pinner as the next executive director of the Office of Equity. Pinner will oversee USU’s systemwide compliance with nondiscrimination law and policy, Title IX regulations, and USU’s policy on sexual misconduct. He joins USU at the Logan campus on Feb. 23, 2022.

“Matthew brings important skills and experience in nondiscrimination, Title IX compliance, as well as in human resources,” said USU Provost Frank Galey. “The office has made huge strides over the last few years in revising policies and procedures and in training our entire campus community. Pinner’s leadership will help us continue this progress and further improve the university’s prevention and response efforts."

Pinner has provided legal and compliance advice for over 14 years, with experience in higher education, risk mitigation, leadership, law and human resources. He comes to USU from the University of Illinois where he has served as an associate director of the Equal Employment Opportunity Division for the Office for Access and Equity. In this role, he helped to prepare the university’s most recent campus sexual misconduct policy and procedures to comply with the August 2020 changes to the Title IX regulations. He also worked with multiple campus units to conduct training and programing regarding inclusivity, discrimination, harassment and retaliation issues.

Prior to working in higher education, Pinner was a human resources leader for a corporate office. In this role, he developed strategies to remain compliant with employment legislative and regulatory changes that would impact company operations. He also oversaw personnel discipline, misconduct investigations, military leave, ADA accommodations and FMLA leave requests.

“I am excited to join the USU family and to help promote campus and community diversity, equity and inclusion efforts,” Pinner said.

Pinner received his law degree from Southern Illinois University and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Illinois State University.