WCSU Diversity Council

Last updated: September 8, 2021

UPDATE: The WCSU Diversity Council will reconvene in the 2021-2022 academic year to provide university recommendations on supporting our university community during these challenging times with community trauma and healing. The Office of Diversity and Equity will work with the WCSU Diversity Council and other university groups in order to engage the campus community.

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

MISSION AND VISION OF THE WCSU DIVERSITY COUNCIL

The Council will function as advisors in developing initiatives to recruit and retain underrepresented minority groups in the identified community groups of the WCSU community. Council members will also identify partnership opportunities between WCSU and the business community for the purposes of: promoting mutual gain through activities like student/employee recruiting, mentoring, consulting arrangements, internship opportunities, and involving faculty members in practical business problems, solutions, 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 2021-2022 academic year:

Dissemination of information for WCSU Diversity Council membership and interest.
Creating virtual and in-person university engagements for diversity and equity practices.
Re-examining the creation and implementation of a WCSU Diversity Action Plan.
Re-examining strategies and resolutions to promote racial trauma and healing for our university community.

As of September 1, 2021, 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
Ercoli, Michael	A&R Union	Qualified Craft Worker- Locksmith WestConnect Card Office *Extended appointment to 2023*	N/A
Cunningham, Jennifer	A&R Union	CSU Administrative Assistant Office of the Provost
Edwards-Harris, Eden	SUOAF	Resident Director Office of Housing and Residence Life
Huang, Carol	Ancell School of Business/AAUP	Associate Professor Finance Department
Keys, Truman	Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences/AAUP	Professor, Communications and Media Arts *Extended appointment to 2023*
Marasco, George	SUOAF	Storekeeper – Office of Property Management	N/A
Monte, Lorri-Ann	School of Professional Studies	Assistant Professor, Education and Education Psychology
Morel, Elisabeth	SUOAF	Director, Office of AccessAbility Services
Moreira, April	School of Professor Studies	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
Woodson, Brianna	Student – Sophomore	BS Biology	N/A
Risko, Sara	Student – Sophomore	BS Health Promotion Studies	N/A
Vacancy	Student representative – Freshman Year		N/A
Vacancy	Student represntative – Junior/Senior Year		N/A