Faculty and Staff Diversity Council
The Faculty and Staff Diversity Council includes members from departments across campus. The council is dedicated to ensuring diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are central to all campus initiatives.
Who We Are
| Preferred Name | Pronouns | Job Title | Department | Identities, Affiliations and Interests |
| Julie Curtis | She/Her | Senior Financial Aid Counselor | Financial Aid Office | Agnostic, Raised in a Midwestern Small Town, Animal Rights Activist, FEMA/American Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Project Supporter, Financial Wellness, Food Insecurity and Homelessness Prevention, Volunteering and Giving Back to Community |
| Hanna Eden | She/Her | Human Resources Generalist | Human Resources | Christian, First-Gen College Student, German & Irish Heritage, I love the outdoors, reading, traveling and dogs |
| Kip Kussman | He/Him | Dean of Students | Dean of Students Office | Jewish Heritage, ADHD, Gardening, Outdoors, Student Development, Reading |
| Kristen Landaal | She/Her | Assistant Director of Campus Life | Campus Life | Leadership and Student Development, Student Involvement and Engagement, Campus Traditions, Service-Learning and Community Engagement, Interfaith Relations, Mental Health and Holistic Well-Being Advocacy |
| Candela Marini | She/Her/Ella | Assistant Professor of Latin American Studies, Co-Director Honors Program, Spanish Certificate Coordinator | Humanities, Social Science and Communication | Latin America, Spanish, Honors Program, Community Projects, Tango, Visual Studies, Arts & Culture, History, (neo) Colonialisms, Argentina |
| Joshua Mitchell | He/Him | Dean of Residence Life | Residence Life | First-Gen, Low-Income, Disability, Leadership, Student Development, Student Mental Health and Well-Being |
| Seandra Mitchell | She/Her | Vice President of Student Affairs and Campus Inclusion | Student Affairs | African American, English, Christian, I love gardening, traveling and trying new restaurants |
| Leah Newman | She/Her | Program Director/Associate Professor Industrial Engineering Program, Mechanical Engineering Department | Mechanical Engineering | African American/Black, English, First Generation College Student, Christian/Ecumenical, LGBTQ+ Ally, Spiritual/Universal Ally, love animals especially dogs, reading, movies and other pop culture "stuff" like the idea of traveling the world |
| Annette Pirrung | She/Her | Assistant Director of Communication | Marketing Communications | Communications Expert, speak conversational Spanish, I love the outdoors, hiking, biking and yoga |
| Luis A. Rodriguez | He/Him | Associate Professor | Mechanical Engineering | Latino, Spanish, Mexican Immigrant, First Generational College Student, Catholic, Running, Playing Soccer, Hiking, Gardening |
| Leo Schauer | He/Him | Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs | Multicultural Affairs | Asian American, LGBTQ+, Buddhism, Human Migration, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals |
| Thabiso Shabangu | Motho | Web Services Admin | IT - Digital Applications and Systems | Afrikan, Botho, Speaking seven South Afrikan languages, Mapulana and Swati heritage, play and love football |
| Katie Toske | She/Her | Director of Multicultural Affairs | Multicultural Affairs | English and Writing Instructor, Global Opportunities, International Student Support, Working Mom |
| Hannah Trees | She/Her | Associate Athletic Director and Women's Basketball Coach | Athletics | LGBTQ+, English, Vegan/GF, Travel, Reading, trying new restaurants |
| Davinci Wallace | He/Him | Coordinator of Athletic Recruitment/Assistant Women's Basketball Coach/Admissions Counselor | Admissions | African American, Christianity |
Diversity Council Goals
DEIB Strategic Plan Goal Alignment
- Goal 5: Foster and Sustain a Welcoming Feeling of Belonging for All Internal and External Stakeholders
- Action h: Explore the value of affinity for faculty and staff
Extraordinary Together Strategic Plan Goal Alignment
- Strategy 1: Recruit and Retain Outstanding Faculty and Staff who share our core values and who are committed to personal growth
DEIB Strategic Plan Goal Alignment
- Goal 5: Foster and sustain a Welcoming Feeling of Belonging for All Internal and External Stakeholders.
Extraordinary Together Strategic Plan Goal Alignment
- Strategy 1: Recruit and Retain Outstanding Faculty and Staff who share our core values and who are committed to personal growth
DEIB Strategic Plan Goal Alignment
- Goal 5: Foster and sustain a Welcoming Feeling of Belonging for All Internal and External Stakeholders
- Action g: Create a DEIB Ambassador Program for faculty & staff and students
Extraordinary Together Strategic Plan Goal Alignment
- Strategy 1: Recruit and retain Outstanding Faculty and Staff who share our core values and who are committed to personal growth
DEIB Strategic Plan Goal Alignment
- Goal 5: Foster and Sustain and Welcoming Feeling of Belonging for All Internal and External Stakeholders
DEIB Strategic Plan Goal Alignment
- Goal 5: Foster and Sustain and Welcoming Feeling of Belonging for All Internal and External Stakeholders
Extraordinary Together Strategic Plan Goal Alignment
- Strategy 1: Recruit and Retain Outstanding Faculty and Staff who share our core values and who are committed to personal growth
DEIB Strategic Plan Goal Alignment
- Goal 2: Enhance Services and Practices that Support an Inclusive Organizational Culture
Extraordinary Together Strategic Plan Goal Alignment
- Strategy 1: Recruit and Retain Outstanding Faculty and Staff who share our core values and who are committed to personal growth
Accomplishments
The Diversity Council has accomplished several of its goals, including but not limited to:
- Defining DEIB. The Diversity Council defined diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, what they mean at MSOE and how they are central to reaching our continual goals of academic excellence and global engagement. View the definitions.
- Commitment to DEIB added to campus. The Diversity Council added artwork showcasing MSOE’s Commitment to DEIB statement to every building on campus. Adding this artwork to high-traffic areas increases awareness of our commitment.
- Family Leave Policy update. The Diversity Council worked with the Human Resources Department to update the Family Leave Policy, which provides four weeks of paid parental leave per calendar year immediately following the birth or adoption of a child. Leave is available to those who meet the eligibility requirements.