News Releases

Jan. 11, 2010

Antioch President Invited to Serve on the American Council of Education's (ACE) Commission on Racial and Ethnic Equity

President Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet, Ph.D., is one of the newest members of the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Equity. The appointment follows a multi-year involvement as a speaker for ACE Summits for Women Presidents and a longstanding professional commitment to expand access to education for women of color.

The Commission advises ACE on improving minority participation in higher education, identifying effective strategies for increasing minority faculty and administrative staff in colleges and universities, and monitoring national policy issues related to campus diversity.

"I am excited to be part of a larger group that will look at issues of diversity affecting higher education institutions across the country," Dr. Manuelito-Kerkvliet states. "Increasing access to education by students of color and hiring faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds must ultimately be built into the mission and values of all universities. If the Commission is successful, we will improve the overall quality and richness of our educational system and nurture better leaders."

Before coming to Antioch University Seattle, Dr. Manuelito-Kerkvliet served as the first woman president of Diné College on the Navajo reservation in Arizona and New Mexico. The majority of her career was spent in mainstream higher education working in minority student services programs at Oregon State University, University of Oregon, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and University of Wyoming.

Dr. Manuelito-Kerkvliet will serve a three-year appointment and join 26 other University and College Presidents and Chancellors from across the United States who are current Commission members.

For more information on the Commission, visit this webpage.

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