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The Inclusive Excellence Council (IEC) functions as an extension of the Division of Inclusive Excellence and an institutional DEIA brain trust. The IEC contributes to divisional and institutional efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism. The IEC convenes each month during the academic year and maintains four active sub-committees. IEC members contribute insights to institutional DEIA work based on their lived experience or expertise, help fill DEIA awareness gaps, and inspire innovative approaches to advancing inclusive excellence at Whitman. The IEC is a working committee and IEC members assist the Division of Inclusive Excellence with coordinated efforts to enhance the campus climate and transform strategic plan recommendations into feasible and measurable DEIA goals.

Subcommittee Information

Community Learning Days

Community Learning Days is a collection of DEIA-related workshops/education sessions organized by the College and held prior to the start of the semester. The sessions target faculty and staff, with the goal of providing critical and timely DEIA competency development for Whitman community members. Past CLD sessions have focused on ableism, cultural taxation, queer identities, inclusive pedagogy, managing bandwidth and boundaries for minoritized staff, and other valuable topics. The Community Learning Days subcommittee works on designing, coordinating and delivering a substantive DEIA learning experience for the Whitman community at the start of each semester.

Microlessons and Skillshops

As part of a strategic capacity building effort, microlessons and skillshops are an effective way to deliver diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism and accessibility content that is digestible and actionable for learners. The Microlessons and Skillshops subcommittee coordinates a series of learning opportunities each semester that are offered by current Whitman faculty and staff and provide a platform for the community to share and grow our collective DEIA competencies. A microlesson on Cyberbullying or Affirmative Consent could be meaningful and helpful. A skillshop on how to add Alt-Text on social media posts can be valuable. A review of our Principles of Inclusive Excellence or a short session on why “Happy Holidays” might be a more inclusive holiday greeting can help produce a more inclusive campus climate. The Microlessons and Skillshops subcommittee identifies presenters, reviews and/or designs content, and coordinates the delivery and assessment of these regular DEIA learning sessions across campus.

Climate and Data

What’s the NACCC? What does HEDS stand for? Who is IPEDS? The College collects a considerable amount of data on the Whitman experience, from demographic data that provides a sense of the compositional diversity, to climate and engagement data that helps paint a picture of community wellbeing and experiences of harm. Community literacy about the role, value and results of research on inclusive excellence is an important part of building an inclusive community. The Climate and Data subcommittee works to increase campus awareness and understanding of inclusive excellence metrics and outcomes.

Grants and Awards

In 2022, the Division of Diversity and Inclusion began accepting applications for DEIA Cultivation Grants. The next year, the Division launched the Inclusive Excellence Awards. The Division of Inclusive Excellence takes its responsibility seriously to cultivate, recognize, and celebrate inclusive excellence at Whitman. The Grants and Awards subcommittee reviews grant applications and award nominations and assists with the coordination and planning of the Annual Inclusive Excellence Awards and Recognition Ceremony.

Inclusive Excellence Committee 2025-2026 Roster

• Maetheany (Mae) Ban – Associated Students of 吃瓜网 (ASWC) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair (Spring semester)
• Natasha Blake – Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Inclusive Excellence
• NiQo Bullock – Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Student Activities, Involvement & Leadership. Staff representative (Ex Officio)
• Cheysen Cabuyadao-Sipe – Resident Director and Intercultural Program Manager (Ex Officio)
• Sylvia Carey-Butler – Vice President for Inclusive Excellence (Ex Officio)
• Neal Christopherson – Director of Institutional Research, Academic Affairs. Staff representative (Ex Officio)
• Jeanine Gordon – Special Assistant to the President for Native American Outreach, Office of the President (Ex Officio)
• Shelby Hearn – Interim Director of Identity and Belonging and Director of LGBTQIA+ Student Services, Division of Inclusive Excellence. Staff representative (Ex Officio)
• Mónica Hernández Williams – Enrollment Marketing Specialist, Communications. Staff representative
• Aaliyah-Ari Howard – Associated Students of 吃瓜网 (ASWC) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair (Fall semester)
• seigen johnson – Interfaith Chaplain, Director of Religious and Spiritual Life (Ex Officio)
• Sydney London – Assistant Director of Alumni Relations. (2-year term ends August 2027)
• Micaiah Newman – Resident Director (2-year term ends August 2027)
• Laura Norris – Director of the Health Center (2-year term ends August 2027)
• Mary Raschko – Associate Dean for Faculty Development, Academic Affairs. Faculty representative (Ex Officio)
• Cindy Saldaña – Director of Disability Access Services (Ex Officio)
• Sybella Ssewakiryanga – Associated Students of 吃瓜网 (ASWC) President
• Catherine 驶莫maikalani Ulep – Assistant Professor of History (2-year term ends August 2027)