DEIC Members

Dr. JB Robinson (Staff)

“I am honored to be a trusted member of the DEIC and contribute to an atmosphere of equity, inclusion, and transparency. Accessible education remains the bedrock of so many of our civic institutions and communal life, and we owe it to so many to make post-secondary education a possibility, a joy, and a right.”

Martin Gallardo (Staff)

“I want to better understand, and work to remove, any barriers our students experience in pursuit of their educational goals.”

Brad Dotson (Staff)

“Joining the DEIC is very important to me because I want to be an active participant of positive progression at NU. Both my professional and personal life will always reflect my earnest desire for the communities in which I impact to reflect diverse and inclusive ideas and policies.”

Gabrielle (Brie) Martin (Staff)

“I joined the DEIC to support data-informed decision making around diversity, equity, and inclusion. I believe that an inclusive environment benefits all students, and measuring diversity and inclusion in meaningful ways will lead to positive changes.”

Dr. Brian Tilley (COLS)

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to my research and my work training future therapists in the MAC program. I also believe in accountability—that we aren’t just talking about change. We must ensure our faculty, staff, administration, and university direction reflect our students’ diverse range of identities and experiences. This diversity has always been an asset to National and the communities we impact.”

Dr. Sara Kelly (COPS)

As the first in my family to attend college, I am intimately aware of education’s ability to uplift, equalize and advance. I am also personally familiar with the barriers to access that can hold people back and keep them from seeking out opportunities to improve their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Additionally, as a Title IX Deputy Coordinator for National University, I have received extensive training in the promotion of equity and fairness from the Association of Title IX Administrators.

Miles Leader (Adjunct Faculty)

“I am a firm believer that diversity is a strength, and hope to make lasting changes in the advancement of diversity and inclusion at National University.”

Dr. Mudasser Wyne (COPS)

“I am a strong believer of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. I joined DEIC to be able to contribute in building positive campus climate based on my extensive academic experience. My current focus is Diversity in the formal and informal Curriculum across the various academic programs.”

Dr. Chandrika Kelso (COPS)

Dr. Julie Wilhelm (COLS)

I serve on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council to help foster an environment in which caring can flourish, one where the diverse needs of community members are met and students are empowered and inspired to lead diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in their communities.

Dr. Veronica Ardi-Pastores (COLS)

Ildifonso Carrillo (Staff)

“As gay Chicano man and first generation college graduate; issues of diversity, equity and inclusion have been pivotal to my life experiences. During my undergraduate work at USD, I co-founded the student multi-cultural center on campus and as an adult I started a Chicano themed coffee house in San Diego called Chicano Perk café y cultura. Now, I am passionate about ensuring that we provide a safe and nurturing environment free from bias to our students at National University. The DEIC has provided me the space and platform to ensure that our diverse NU student population has a learning environment conducive to their success. Through my participation in the DEIC Andrological Subcommittee I have been able to influence the course design process to ensure our online courses are created with the lens DEIC principles.”

Dr. Melinda Campbell (COLS)

Having served on the General Education Committee for four years, with two of those years as Chair of the committee, I have long had an interest in enhancing the elements of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our GE course curriculum. Now, as Academic Program Director for the Associate of Arts in General Education, my interest in and concern for diversity enrichment of the GE course curriculum has evolved into genuine responsibility. GE houses the only courses at National (as far as I know) that have been officially designed as diversity-enriched courses. The GE program also has a requirement that all students take at least one such diversity-designated course. Hence my deep involvement in GE at National has also brought me to a similar involvement with bringing diversity not only to all GE courses (beyond the slate of specially designated diversity-enriched courses), but also to all National courses and programs across the disciplines.

Pedro Aguilar (Student)

Dr. Torrie Norton (SCOE)

Why am I passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? I have spent my entire professional career advocating for inclusion of students in our educational system as well as advocating and promoting diversity in the workplace. I feel my professional skills and experience in the K-12 public schools will greatly benefit National University as together we address, promote, and institute inclusive practices. Beyond diversity and inclusive practices, we must work to actively diversify our programs and initiatives in all of the National University programs.

Dr. Clara Amador-Lankster (SCOE)

Anita Handson (Staff)

As a 2018 CMC (Culture Marketing Council) rising star award recipient, I’ve made diversity, equity, and inclusion a long-term mission of mine. I have spent most of my marketing career fighting for not only the inclusion of diversity in advertising but the right, culturally relevant, and authentic inclusion. I joined the DEIC at National University to expand my mission beyond advertising. Through education, the impact is greater, planting the seeds to reap the fruit of a richer, more equal, inclusive, and diverse society.

Julia McMillan (Staff)

I serve on the DEIC because I am passionate about building communities that welcome, nourish, and celebrate everyone, and that give people an opportunity to let their unique gifts shine. As a Queer woman, it is a privilege to advocate for our diverse LGBTQ+ stakeholders and to create pathways for solidarity and allyship. I am a firm believer in universal design, and know that we all benefit from more thoughtful and inclusive policy, procedures, curricula, and communications.

Dr. LaCrisia Gilbert (Staff)

“I believe that an organization that prioritizes diversity, equity and inclusion creates an environment that respects and values individual difference along varying dimensions. In addition, inclusive organizations foster cultures that minimize bias and recognize and address systemic inequities, which, if unaddressed, can create disadvantage for certain individuals.”

Cristyn Vure (Student)

National University has been my home of higher learning since 2018. From my first class to my last, National University has supported my educational journey and those of my fellow classmates. As a student, I have witnessed NU’s dedication to diversity of thought and its dynamic inclusivity first-hand. As an alumni representative of the DEIC, I will deliver clarity and purpose in all DEI efforts from the student perspective. I aim to empower our diverse student population to engage with leadership, enabling NU to better serve students, teachers, and staff while fostering a supportive learning environment where all are welcome.

Dr. Sidney Castle (SCOE)

Starlone Thomas (Staff)

“I joined the DEIC because inclusion puts the practice of diversity into action.”

Carolyn Aoki (Staff)

““None of us is as smart as all of us.” (Ken Blanchard) Each person; every student, staff and faculty, with their own distinct perspective, background, talent and experiences brings a collective richness and genius to the organization. My hope is that the DEIC finds new ways to promote the richness of diversity at NU, the joy of inclusion and the power of uniqueness with belonging, to empower both student success and the employee experience.”

Ricardo Ortega (Staff)

“I grew up in the small border town of Calexico, Ca. I went to Cal Poly Pomona and received my degree in Gender, Ethnicity and Multicultural Studies then went to UCSB and received my PhD in Chicana and Chicano Studies. So Diversity, Equity and Inclusion issues have always been a part of my life. I feel that when an organization is open and honest about making DEI work a resource backed initiative then it starts to work towards making that organization better for all of us. With work being such a large part of our lives it is imperative that we start to thing of “work” as a place were we can bring our true selves. I look forward to this type of work here at National.”

Dr. Bernadette Baum (COPS)

Dr. Durrel Parker (Staff)

I am passionate about using my expertise in managing human capital management to help National University improve its decision-making while ensuring employees feel valued in the workplace. For me, diversity is more than equity and inclusion, it is about ensuring the entire NU community has a sense of belonging.

Dr. Rachel Simmons (COLS)