WCSU Diversity Council
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, 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
University Diversity Council Bylaws
The members of the Diversity Council are as follows:
| Council Member | Represented WCSU Region | Title/Department |
|
|
Dr. Hasan Arslan |
Ancell School of Business/AAUP | Associate Professor
Justice and Law Administration |
 |
| Dr. Carol Huang | Ancell School of Business/AAUP | Associate Professor
Finance Department |
 |
| Jennifer Labate, J.D. | Management/Conf. | Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Officer
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion |
 |
| Lorri-Ann Monte | School of Professional Studies/AAUP | Assistant Professor
Education and Education Psychology |
 |
| Elisabeth Morel | SUOAF | Director
Office of AccessAbility Services |
 |
| Robert Pote | SUOAF |
Director Pre-Collegiate and Access Department
|
 |
| Julie Pryor-Bennett | SUOAF | Major Gifts Officer, Institution Advancement
Member At Large |
 |
| Sara Risko | WCSU Student |
BS Health Promotion Studies
|
 |
| Paul Steinmetz | Management/Conf. | Director of Sponsored Research, Academic Affairs |  |
| Keisha Stokes | Clerical | Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Council Liaison |
 |
| Joshua Sumrell | SUOAF/Office of Intercultural Affairs | Director of Inclusion & Belonging |  |
|
Scott Towers
|
SUOAF/Pride Center | Pride Center/ Deputy IX Coordinator |  |