The Diversity Council and Its Members
History
The Diversity Council was established in 1996 under the name Cultural Diversity Committee. That committee authored the March 1999 report, Multiculturalism & Diversity at Minot State University: An Assessment in which it recommended that in order to “enhance multiculturalism and diversity at MSU” the institution should, “[u]tilize the Diversity Committee to encourage and establish additional opportunities for meaningful student to student interaction.” This report was submitted to the State Board of Higher Education in January 2001.
The committee was revived in the Fall semester of the 2002–2003 academic year as a standing institutional committee, and its name was officially changed to the Diversity Committee in the Fall semester of 2003. It became the Diversity Council in 2012.
Members of the Diversity Council
The Diversity Council's members include, at minimum, representatives from Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, and the Student Government Association; representatives from Human Resources, Access Services, the Native American Cultural Center, Lutheran Campus Ministries, the Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Council, and the Office of International Programs; the Minot State University representative to the NDUS Diversity Council; and at least one member from each of the three colleges. Representatives from Campus Pride, the Native American Cultural Awareness Club, and other interested campus organizations also are invited to participate in meetings as non-voting members. Members of the Diversity Council serve a three-year, renewable term with the exception of student members, who serve one-year terms.
The chair of the council is appointed by the university president, and members are nominated by the chair and appointed by the university president. Nominations may be solicited, and those interested in joining may ask a council member to recommend them. The council elects a vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer, all of whom serve one-year, renewable terms.
| Diversity Council Members | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jessie Allery | Research Associate – NDCPD | |
| Dianna Anderson | Assistant Professor, Music – College of Arts and Sciences/Faculty Senate | |
| Maggie Backen | Dakota College at Bottineau – Minot Programs Director | |
| Kacey Donamaria | Records Specialist | |
| Emerson Eads | Assistant Professor - Performing Arts | |
| Araceli Erickson | International Activity Coordinator | |
| Kyle Erickson | Research Associate – NDCPD | |
| Mitchell Gresham | Assistant Professor - Criminal Justice | |
| Kathy Hintz | Professor of Education; Teacher Advisement and Field Placement – College of Education and Health Sciences | Chair |
| Aaron Hughes | Student Activities Coordinator | |
| Maleeha Latif | Director of International Programs | |
| Annette Mennem | Director, Native American Cultural Center | Treasurer |
| Madesyn Porterfield | Research Associate – NDCPD | |
| Jordan Quinlan | Assistant Director of Compliance & Student Life, Co-Chair of Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Council, and NCAA Athletics Diversity & Inclusion Designee | Secretary |
| Nicole Reeves | Student Government Association Representative | |
| Jan Repnow | Assistant Professor, Business Information Technology – College of Business | |
| Kelli Sem | Access Services Coordinator | |
| Rachel Simonson | Lutheran Campus Ministries | |
| Debra Wentz | Executive Assistant, President's Office | |
| Mara West | Reference and Instruction Librarian – GBO Library | |
| Wenjing Zheng | Assistant Professor, Special Education – College of Education and Health Sciences | |
Last updated: August 2023
