WCSU Diversity Council

Last updated: August 18, 2022

UPDATE: The WCSU Diversity Council will reconvene in the Spring 2023 semester for the 2022-2023 academic year to provide university recommendations on supporting our university community during these challenging times. The Office of Diversity and Equity will work with the Office of the President and WCSU Diversity Council during the Fall 2022 semester for recruitment purposes to be prepared to engage the campus community the following Spring 2023 semester.

The Office of Diversity and Equity, in partnership with the Office of the Provost/Vice President for the Division of Academic Affairs and the Office of the President, launched the first Diversity Council in December 2017. The Western Connecticut State University (“WCSU” or “University”) Diversity Council (“the Council”) is comprised of representation from Management/Confidential staff, AAUP, Clerical, Police, Maintenance and Student representatives to utilize the experience and expertise of Council Members to develop and support methods for advancing the presence of diversity, equity and inclusion of underrepresented minority groups within the university community.

MISSION AND VISION OF THE WCSU DIVERSITY COUNCIL

The Council will develop recommendations and initiatives to recruit and retain underrepresented minority groups in the identified community groups of the WCSU community. Council members will partner with other groups in the WCSU community for the purposes of: promoting mutual gain through activities like student/employee recruiting, mentoring, consulting arrangements, internship opportunities, arranging for guest speakers from industry, supporting University-wide outreach operations, and bringing students and employees into direct contact with members of the Danbury community. The Council will assist the Office of Diversity and Equity on key trends, changes, and developments so that Western Connecticut State University can more readily integrate “real world” matters into curriculum and other university activities

Key Priorities for the Council completed in the 2022-2023 academic year:

Dissemination of information for WCSU Diversity Council membership and interest.
Creating virtual and in-person university engagements for equity and inclusion practices in the Spring 2023 semester.
Re-examining the creation and implementation of a 5-year WCSU Equity Action Plan inclusive on preventive strategies and resolutions to address racial trauma and healing for our university community.

As of September 1, 2022, the members of the Diversity Council are as follows:

Council Member	Represented WCSU Region	Title/Department	Photo/Image
Arslan, Hasan	Ancell School of Business/AAUP	Associate Professor, Justice and Law Administration
Brown, Michelle	Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences/Management-Conf.	Dean, Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences
VACANT	A&R Union	N/A	Image Unavailable
Cunningham, Jennifer	A&R Union	CSU Administrative Assistant Office of the Provost
Huang, Carol	Ancell School of Business/AAUP	Associate Professor Finance Department
VACANT	Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences/AAUP	N/A	N/A
Marasco, George	SUOAF	Storekeeper – Office of Property Management	N/A
Monte, Lorri-Ann	School of Professional Studies/AAUP	Assistant Professor, Education and Education Psychology
Morel, Elisabeth	SUOAF	Director, Office of AccessAbility Services
Moreira, April	School of Professional Studies/AAUP	Assistant Professor, Social Work
Pote, Robert	SUOAF	Director, Pre-Colliegate and Access Department *Extended appointment to 2023*
Steinmetz, Paul	Management/Conf.	Chief of Staff, President’s Office Extended appointment to 2023
Dennis, Daryle	SUOAF	Assistant Dean, Division of Student Affairs Ex-officio Member
Jesenia Minier	Management/Conf.	Chief Diversity Officer/WCSU ADA & Title IX Coordinator Council Organizer and Ex-officio Member
VACANT	Student representative – Freshman Year	N/A	N/A
Sara Risko	WCSU Student – Junior	BS Health Promotion Studies	N/A
VACANT	Student representative – Sophomore Year	N/A	N/A
VACANT	Student represntative – Junior/Senior Year	N/A	N/A