Inclusive Excellence

What is Inclusive Excellence?

Inclusive Excellence is defined as the ongoing journey of intentionally considering people, place, and perspective and creating a culture of community, success, and leadership in every aspect of our university’s processes, operations, services, and practices.

What we do?

The Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE) focuses on: 1.) Exploring, creating awareness, and developing understanding, 2.) Fostering people-centered community building, and 3.) Promoting intentional engagement with diverse cultures, traditions, perspectives, peoples, and/or lived-experiences who frequent and/or call Adams State and the San Luis Valley their home.

Our Staff

  • Joshua Roies – Administrative Assistant
  • Desiree Lewis – Inclusive Excellence Liaison & JUNTOS Grant Project Director
  • Dr. Heidi Schneider –  JUNTOS Grant PI
  • Dr. Florencio U. Aranda III – Executive Equity Officer

The OIE works in a collective and collaborative approach with The Equity Board, President’s Coalition on Sexual Assault Education and Prevention, OVW/DOJ JUNTOS Grant, Educational Workshop Facilitators, and with an array of campus advocates, practitioners, and colleagues focused on DEIB efforts campus-wide and within the SLV community.

    1.   The Equity Board focuses on creating a community for inclusion, equity, leadership and opportunity at Adams State University. The current members are: Vince Alcon, David Bertolatus, Jeff Gallegos, Sandra Gavin, Ana Guevara, Gina Mitchell, Meliza Ramirez, Desiree Lewis, Jose Villagomez, and Florencio U. Aranda III (chair). The responsibilities of the Equity Board are: Kindred Spirits Lunch & Learn Series, Inclusive Excellence Fund, and programming for the Special Emphasis Observances (SEOs).
    2.   The President’s Coalition of Sexual Assault Education and Prevention has representation from the following areas: Athletics, CoRE, Counseling, MAGE, Public Relations, Student Affairs, Title IX/Clery, Tu Casa, Inc., and WHE. The current members are: Theresa Ortega, Aftin Gillespie, Ana Guevara, Caroline Gabe, Delilah Chavez, Desiree Lewis, Diane Brittingham, Katelyn Smith, Michael Stewart, Savala DeVoge, Vince Alcon, and Florencio U. Aranda III (chair). The responsibilities include programming focused on education and prevention of dating, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.
    3.   The OVW/DOJ JUNTOS Grant is an initiative for campus safety and cultural responsiveness. The purpose of the grant is to establish a comprehensive, coordinated, trauma-informed and culturally relevant program to prevent and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus. This initiative partners with Tu Casa, Inc. and the SLV Immigrant Resource Center to provide additional support to students.
    4.   The Diversify the Den: Train the Trainer program consists of a number of campus personnel who are trained to lead educational workshops campus-wide.
    5.   Collaborations with campus advocates, practitioners, and colleagues focused on DEIB efforts campus-wide and within the SLV community

 

Events, workshops, and resources were/are open to all. None of these opportunities are mandatory. All who participate do so on a voluntary basis.

People: An understanding of, and commitment to, the people who study, work, lead and help or have helped shape our university.

Place: An understanding of our university’s geographical and historical context within the San Luis Valley region and commitment to the unique opportunities and responsibilities that come with being part of this place.

Perspective: An understanding of the intersecting perspectives that define our university’s resilience, grit, strength, and innovation from being a low-income, first-generation, and Hispanic-serving, rural anchor university and commitment to intentionally supporting individuals who possess these characteristics.

The Office of Inclusive Excellence and Adams State University is leading and supporting actions that transforms our campus into an exemplar model for fair access and opportunity for all students, faculty, exempt staff, classified employees, and administrators equipping them with the preparedness to engage and thrive in their learning, leadership, and service within the communities they are part of at the local, state, national, and global level. 

By placing a focus on people, place, and perspective to inform our policy, programming, and practice we aim at creating a community for equitable access,  leadership, and opportunity for all at Adams State University. We are composed of faculty, staff, and students from across campus  who through a collective and collaborative approach, are committed to intentionally and effectively serving our students, faculty, exempt staff, classified employees, and administration while fulfilling Adams State’s purpose, vision, and values.