The Equity Board

adams state graduateThe Equity Board is creating a community for inclusion, equity, leadership, and opportunity at Adams State University. We are composed of faculty, staff, and students from across campus who are knowledgeable in issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion and who have demonstrated a commitment to Adams State’s purpose, vision, and values.

Vision:

The Equity Board leads actions that transform Adams into a model for inclusive excellence by promoting inclusivity, equity, cultural humility, diversity, and community engagement.

Mission:

Through collective leadership and strategic planning, The Equity Board’s mission is to eradicate structural barriers to equity and inclusion throughout our campus community.

Goals:

The Equity Board’s goals align with Adams State’s driving purpose “to provide equitable access to education for all” and our vision to “become the university community of choice for diverse, historically underserved groups, and for all who value quality education and inclusivity.” The Equity Board will advocate for all people at Adams State to have access to resources needed to be successful and thrive. To reach this goal, Equity board members will gather institutional data to identify equity gaps and develop recommendations to the President and Board of Trustees. Recommendations will focus on the mission of academic excellence by diversifying and retaining faculty, staff, and students; encourage departmental and university collaboration to promote the success of all students and employees within an open and supportive intellectual environment.

We will continue to:

  • Provide opportunities to develop ourselves as equity-minded practitioners who are willing to engage in the necessary, and sometimes difficult, conversations and decision making that can lead to transformational change for student learning and achievement.
  • Support campus activities that promote inclusive excellence and cultural responsiveness
  • Promote and celebrate the history and culture of the SLV and the upper Rio Grande region and build positive, intentional relationships in the region.

The Equity Board’s Values

  • Our students—resilient, diverse, and successful
  • Our role as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
  • Advocacy—sustaining a collective leadership structure, respecting the leadership of all who take up this work
  • Deepening our personal awareness and responsibility around bias, equity, and institutional change
  • Evidence-based decision making that is balanced with multiple ways of achieving equity
  • Creating safe spaces for courageous and difficult conversations
  • SLV cultural heritages and the richness of our place

What Can You Do?

  • Contact the Executive Equity Officer (EEO) Dr. Florencio Aranda III, farandaiii@adams.edu.
  • Come to our Kindred Spirits Luncheons and other equity related programming, view the Diversity Calendar

The Equity Board Current Members

The Equity Board Current Members

  • Vince Alcon (he/him/they), Director of Student Life/ Co-Curricular Recreation & Engagement (term 2023-2026)
  • Florencio U. Aranda III (Él/ He/Him/His), Executive Equity Officer and Chair of The Equity Board
  • David Bertolatus (he/him), Assistant Professor of Biology (term 2023-2026)
  • Jeff Gallegos (he/him/esse), Administrative Assistant, One Stop Services (term 2024-2027)
  • Sandra Gavin (she/her/hers), Assistant Professor of Counselor Education, Specialty Coordinator (term 2024-2027)
  • Ana Guevara (she/her), Director of Title IX & OEO, Equal Opportunity/Title IX (term 2023-2026)
  • Sarah Hallman (she/her), Coordinator of Grizzly Persist & Orientation (term 2024-2027)
  • Gina Mitchell (she, her, ella), Associate Professor of Psychology (term 2023-2026)
  • Meliza Ramirez (she, her, ella), Assistant Professor of Spanish (term 2024-2027)
  • Heidi Schneider (she, her, ella), Associate Professor and Chair of Sociology, Inclusive Excellence Liaison
  • Jose Villagomez (he, him, el), Activity Coordinator of Co-Curricular Engagement & Recreation (term 2024-2027)

Equity Ambassadors

 Undergraduate Students

  • Delia Pablo (she/her)
    B.A in Psychology
    (Class of 2027)

 Graduate Students

  • Nina Sandler (she/her)
    School of Counselor Education
    (Class of 2026)

Former Equity Board Members

  • Courtney Allen, Professor of Counselor Education
  • Julie Allen (she/her), Head Women’s Volleyball Coach
  • Andréa Benton-Maestas, Title V PPOHA Grant Activity Director
  • Kaylee A. Gomez Romero (she, her, ella), Director of College Assistance Migrant Program
  • Oneyda Maestas, CASA Coordinator and Student Advocate
  • Nick Saenz, Professor of History and Interim Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs
  • Nick Sanders (he/him/él), CTIR Director and Title V HIPs Coordinator
  • Colleen Schaffner, Director of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department Chair, Psychology
  • Anna Torello, Title V Cornerstone to Capstone Grant Activity Director
  • Billy J. Ulibarrí, (he/him) Assistant Professor of Sociology
  • Lindsey Wente (she, her, ella), Manager Grizzly Testing and Learning Center, ADA Coordinator, and WICS facilitator