Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

SOWELA’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

SOWELA Technical Community College recognizes, respects, and honors diversity existing in society due to an individual’s age, ethnicity, national origin, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, marital status, familial status, religious beliefs, creeds, and socioeconomic status.

The College is committed, through programs and policies, to create and sustain an environment that empowers individuals to live and work productively by embracing diversity, fostering inclusiveness, and advancing equity through dynamic, welcoming work and educational spaces in an ever-changing global society.

SOWELA’s commitment to diversity compels it to confront prejudicial, discriminatory behaviors and policies. The College supports steps and programs intended to remedy the historical under-representation of persons of color, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities in the workforce, and in ensuring a learning environment that is inclusive and equitable for all.

SOWELA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

The purpose of the DEI Committee is to help guide the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion at SOWELA Technical Community College. The committee is tasked with implementing actionable steps related to the College’s diversity initiatives and goals for pursuing equitability for students, staff, and faculty. Committee members have committed themselves to honoring SOWELA’s diverse population, celebrating the College’s expansive culture and that of its students, faculty, & staff, and lifting the voices of the underrepresented.

Committee Officers

NameCommittee RoleJob TitleEmail
Jeremy RyderCommittee ChairDual Enrollment Coordinatorjeremy.ryder@sowela.edu
Adrienne AbelCommittee Co-Vice ChairSite Coordinator, Morgan Smith Instructional Siteadrienne.abel@sowela.edu
Romona ThomasCommittee Co-Vice ChairManager of Instructional Technologyromona.thomas@sowela.edu

Committee Members

NameJob TitleEmail
Tammy AbrahamExecutive Assistant to Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairstammy.abraham@sowela.edu
Melvin CaesarWelding Instructormelvin.caesar@sowela.edu
Denise Cloud-MillerAdult Education, Oakdaledenise.cloudmiller@sowela.edu
Ana DenisonBusiness Developerana.denison@sowela.edu
Allison DeringExecutive Director, Enrollment Management & Student Affairsallison.dering@sowela.edu
Amanda GuthrieNursing Instructoramanda.guthrie@sowela.edu
Nicole HuttoSOWELA Student
Geralyn JaniceSite Coordinator, Lamar Salter Instructional Sitegeralyn.janice@sowela.edu
Joseph LavergneDirector, Student Recruitment & Career Servicesjoseph.lavergne@sowela.edu
Candy ParkerDirector, Human Resourcescandy.parker@sowela.edu
Chase WallingStudent Success Counselorchase.walling@sowela.edu
Carl WilkersonFacilities and Security Managercarl.wilkerson@sowela.edu
Libbie WilliamsEnrollment Specialistlibbie.williams@sowela.edu
Marialisa WyattFaculty, Workforce Solutionsmarialisa.wyatt@sowela.edu

Employee Training

Employee Training will be provided by NAPE (The National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity).

DEI Fall 2023 Session

Presentation topic: Micromessaging to Reach and Teach Every Student

Training session will include curriculum concepts including but not limited to:

  • Interrupting bias
  • Micromessages
  • The accumulation of (dis)advantage
  • Student self-efficacycand behavior
  • Establishing a peer learning community through guided breakouts and foundational learning tools

This is an in person session only.

Registration is required. Refreshments will be provided.