Oglethorpe University’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force was created in 2020 to support diverse voices and build inclusive environments on campus. Since its creation, the task force has undergone changes that reflect the restructuring of the Office of DEI.
Formerly the DEI Special Advisor to the President, Dr. Rhana Gittens Wheeler will continue to lead the Office of DEI as the Chief Inclusive Excellence Officer. The new DEI Cabinet will join her to steer DEI priorities and collaboration across campus. The cabinet includes:
- Vivian Medrano, Director of Student Success
- Colleen Donaldson, Human Resources Manager
- Austin Rayford, Director of Equity and Care
- Marisol Zacarias, Director of the Intercultural Center
- Kendra Momon, Associate Provost
- Director of TALIII (Vacant)
The DEI Task Force has been renamed the Inclusive Excellence Committee (IEC) to shift the focus from solely amplifying diverse voices to ensuring students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds can thrive, creating learning environments that acknowledge intersectionality, and continuing to increase the compositional diversity of the campus community.
“The new structure of the ODEI is the beginning of ensuring that the DEI mission is at the core of the entire institution and everyone’s responsibility,” says Dr. Gittens Wheeler. “We recognize that creating an inclusive environment isn’t the work of one person or one department, but the role of faculty, staff, and students. Every Petrel! Our goal is to continue to equip and provide resources that support these efforts.”
This fall, new members of the IEC were selected to serve a two-year term or one-year term on a limited basis. Interested candidates were asked to complete an application, which included a letter explaining their role on campus, commitment to DEI, and interest in serving on the task force.
The following members were selected from the applicants:
- Bushra Munair Ahmad ’28
- Hannah Roberts ’23, Admissions Counselor, Admission
- Tunmise Salako ’28
- Ivy Nganga ’26
- Krystal Ghisyawan, Visiting Assitant Professor, Sociology
- Jourdan Russell ’28
- Jeremy Anderson ’26
- Isabella Kelly-Stewart ’27
The new members join previous continuing members:
- Dr. Maura Dudley, Part-Time Lecturer, Biology
- Ethan Hawkland, Assistant Director, Admission
- Dr. James Iredell, Lecturer of Core Studies
- Autumn Johnson ’20, Assistant Director of Events and Communications, Admission
- Dr. Christine McCulloch, Lecturer of Core Studies
- Christina Price Washington, Associate Professor of Art and Art Program Coordinator
- Dr. Megan Murphy, Visiting Assistant Professor, Biology
- Elizabeth Peterson Jennings, Director, Oglethorpe University Museum of Art
- Morgan Quach, Student
- Dr. Anna Ziering, Assistant Professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
- Helen Bond, Academic Advisor, Student Success
- Valeri Cruz ’23, Communications Coordinator, Marketing and Communications
- Dr. Gregory Gabriel, Lecturer, Chemistry
- Laronda Hollis, Assistant Director, Counseling Center
- Naima McHardy, Student
- Dr. Vivian Medrano, Senior Director, Student Success
- Jason Njagi, Student
- Dr. Susan Noh, Assistant Professor, Communication Studies
- Jonathan “Wood” Severe, Student
- Kinsley Williams, Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator
- Marisol Zacarias, Director, Intercultural Center
The IEC also has two student assistants to support their work:
- Kimberlynn Taylor, Event Specialist
- Maro Otolo, Communication Specialist
The group’s three new subcommittees– Grants and Funding, Staff/Faculty Sense of Belonging, and Special Initiatives and Programming– each have specific priorities to work on this year that will contribute to creating and sustaining an inclusive campus community. Committee members work with the Chief Inclusive Excellence Officer and DEI Cabinet to identify, develop, and implement strategies that move Oglethorpe forward.
