Campus Culture

Diversity Statement
Westminster College is dedicated to social justice, equity, and respect as fundamental components of our mission and core values. Informed by our college-wide learning goals, Westminster acknowledges and engages with the values, experiences, worldviews, and intersectional identities and characteristics of all members of our campus community. Furthermore, we strive for Inclusive Excellence by consistently interweaving diversity and inclusion into our curricula and co-curricular activities, programs, policies, practices, and external engagement. It is our goal to cultivate a respectful, equitable, and healthy campus community.
As part of this statement, we define diversity as individual differences, life experiences, group/social differences (e.g., race/ethnicity, class, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, nationality, and disability), historically underrepresented groups, and groups with cultural, political, religious/spiritual, or other affiliations.
This Diversity Statement is further supported by our Commitment to an Inclusive Westminster, and our equal opportunity, ADA, and Title IX policies.
Campus Diversity Committees
Westminster Diversity Council
As a committee within Faculty Senate, the Diversity Council works to advocate for equity and excellence through Westminster's policies, practices, and programs, with a keen focus on curriculum, faculty recruitment and retention, training and education, and equity.
Diversity Council Members
-
Melanie Agnew, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Exec and FAC
- Dean of Education
Degrees
Ed.D. University of Calgary,M.S. University Wisconsin,B.A. University of Victoria
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Oliver Anderson
Role
- Full-Time Staff and ADJ
- Director, Student Involvement and Orientation
Degrees
B.S. University of Utah
Pronouns
He/Him/His
David Baddley, MFA
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Professor
Degrees
M.F.A. University of Utah,B.F.A. University of Utah
Richard Badenhausen, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Exec and FAC
- Dean, Honors College
Degrees
Ph.D. University of Michigan Ann Arbor,M.A. University of Michigan Ann Arbor,B.A. Colgate University
Kara Barnette, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Associate Professor
Degrees
Ph.D. University of Oregon,M.A. University of Oregon,B.A. Gustavus Adolphus College
Heather Batchelor, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Associate Professor
Degrees
Ed.D. University of Massachusetts
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Orn Bodvarsson, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Exec and FAC
- Dean, Gore School of Business
- Immigration, labor market issues (pay, contracts, racial, gender and nativity discrimination in labor markets, economic analysis of professional athlete salaries, economics of tipping, human capital, and higher education), university operations and how they relate to labor markets and the economy
Degrees
Ph.D. Simon Fraser University,M.S. Oregon State University,B.S. Oregon State University
Nancy Brown
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Director of Government Relations and Sponsored Projects
Bri Buckley
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Director of Campus Safety
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Christopher Davids, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Associate Professor
Degrees
Ph.D. Univ of Missouri - Kansas City,M.A. Univ of Missouri - Kansas City,B.A. Cornell College
Pronouns
He/Him/His
Sara Demko
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Assistant Provost for Global Learning
Degrees
B.A. University Wisconsin
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Lauren Erlacher
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Associate Director, Graduate Admissions
Degrees
B.S. Utah State University
Christie Fox
Role
- Full-Time Staff and ADJ
- Director of Retention and Student Success
Degrees
Ph.D. Indiana University,M.P. Trinity College, Dublin,B.A. Loyola University, New Orleans
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Julie Freestone
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Executive Director of Human Resources
Han Kim, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Professor
Degrees
Ph.D. University of Washington,M.S.P.H. University of Utah,B.S. University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Hikmet Loe
Role
- Adjunct
- Adjunct
- The Spiral Jetty, Sun Tunnels, Land Art, 19–20th century Utah art and artists
Degrees
M.L.I.S. University of California - Berkeley,M.A. Hunter College - Cuny
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Lance Newman, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Exec and FAC
- Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences
Degrees
Ph.D. Brown University,B.A. New College Florida
Pronouns
He/Him/His
David Perry
Role
- Full-Time Staff and ADJ
- Director, Academic Administration
Pronouns
He/Him/His
Paul Presson, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Associate Professor
Degrees
Ph.D. Univ New Hampshire Durham,M.A. Univ New Hampshire Durham,B.A. Chapman University
Jan Saeed
Role
- Part-Time
- Director of Spiritual Life
Ashley Seitz Kramer
Role
- Full-Time Staff and ADJ
- Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences
Degrees
M.F.A. Vermont College of Fine Arts,M.A. Ohio University,B.A. Miami University
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Sheryl Steadman, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Exec and FAC
- Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences
Degrees
Ph.D. University of Utah,M.S. University of Utah
Tamara Stevenson, Ph.D
Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and C.D.O
Tamara Stevenson, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and C.D.O
Degrees
Ed.D. Eastern Michigan University,M.A. Wayne State University,B.A. Wayne State University
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Syd Tervort
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Interim Vice President of Finance and Adminsitration
Degrees
M.B.A. Westminster College,B.S. Westminster College,B.A. Montana State University
Autumn Thatcher
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Director of Publications and Managing Editor
Degrees
M.S.C. Westminster College,B.A. University of Utah
Julie Tille
Role
- Full-Time Staff and ADJ
- Director, Center for Civic Engagement
Degrees
M.Ed. Westminster College,B.A. Colorado State University
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Mike Zarkin, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Professor
Degrees
Ph.D. University of Florida,M.A. University of Florida,B.A. University of Minnesota
Ex-Officio Non-Voting Member
-
Richard Badenhausen, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Exec and FAC
- Dean, Honors College
Degrees
Ph.D. University of Michigan Ann Arbor,M.A. University of Michigan Ann Arbor,B.A. Colgate University
Diversity Engagement Team
The Diversity Engagement Team comprises representatives from across campus who provide updates on efforts related to diversity and inclusion, share concerns or issues related to campus culture, and identify opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
Diversity Council Members
-
Melanie Agnew, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Exec and FAC
- Dean of Education
Degrees
Ed.D. University of Calgary,M.S. University Wisconsin,B.A. University of Victoria
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Oliver Anderson
Role
- Full-Time Staff and ADJ
- Director, Student Involvement and Orientation
Degrees
B.S. University of Utah
Pronouns
He/Him/His
David Baddley, MFA
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Professor
Degrees
M.F.A. University of Utah,B.F.A. University of Utah
Richard Badenhausen, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Exec and FAC
- Dean, Honors College
Degrees
Ph.D. University of Michigan Ann Arbor,M.A. University of Michigan Ann Arbor,B.A. Colgate University
Kara Barnette, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Associate Professor
Degrees
Ph.D. University of Oregon,M.A. University of Oregon,B.A. Gustavus Adolphus College
Heather Batchelor, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Associate Professor
Degrees
Ed.D. University of Massachusetts
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Orn Bodvarsson, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Exec and FAC
- Dean, Gore School of Business
- Immigration, labor market issues (pay, contracts, racial, gender and nativity discrimination in labor markets, economic analysis of professional athlete salaries, economics of tipping, human capital, and higher education), university operations and how they relate to labor markets and the economy
Degrees
Ph.D. Simon Fraser University,M.S. Oregon State University,B.S. Oregon State University
Nancy Brown
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Director of Government Relations and Sponsored Projects
Bri Buckley
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Director of Campus Safety
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Christopher Davids, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Associate Professor
Degrees
Ph.D. Univ of Missouri - Kansas City,M.A. Univ of Missouri - Kansas City,B.A. Cornell College
Pronouns
He/Him/His
Sara Demko
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Assistant Provost for Global Learning
Degrees
B.A. University Wisconsin
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Lauren Erlacher
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Associate Director, Graduate Admissions
Degrees
B.S. Utah State University
Christie Fox
Role
- Full-Time Staff and ADJ
- Director of Retention and Student Success
Degrees
Ph.D. Indiana University,M.P. Trinity College, Dublin,B.A. Loyola University, New Orleans
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Julie Freestone
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Executive Director of Human Resources
Han Kim, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Professor
Degrees
Ph.D. University of Washington,M.S.P.H. University of Utah,B.S. University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Hikmet Loe
Role
- Adjunct
- Adjunct
- The Spiral Jetty, Sun Tunnels, Land Art, 19–20th century Utah art and artists
Degrees
M.L.I.S. University of California - Berkeley,M.A. Hunter College - Cuny
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Lance Newman, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Exec and FAC
- Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences
Degrees
Ph.D. Brown University,B.A. New College Florida
Pronouns
He/Him/His
David Perry
Role
- Full-Time Staff and ADJ
- Director, Academic Administration
Pronouns
He/Him/His
Paul Presson, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Associate Professor
Degrees
Ph.D. Univ New Hampshire Durham,M.A. Univ New Hampshire Durham,B.A. Chapman University
Jan Saeed
Role
- Part-Time
- Director of Spiritual Life
Ashley Seitz Kramer
Role
- Full-Time Staff and ADJ
- Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences
Degrees
M.F.A. Vermont College of Fine Arts,M.A. Ohio University,B.A. Miami University
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Sheryl Steadman, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Exec and FAC
- Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences
Degrees
Ph.D. University of Utah,M.S. University of Utah
Tamara Stevenson, Ph.D
Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and C.D.O
Tamara Stevenson, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and C.D.O
Degrees
Ed.D. Eastern Michigan University,M.A. Wayne State University,B.A. Wayne State University
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Syd Tervort
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Interim Vice President of Finance and Adminsitration
Degrees
M.B.A. Westminster College,B.S. Westminster College,B.A. Montana State University
Autumn Thatcher
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Director of Publications and Managing Editor
Degrees
M.S.C. Westminster College,B.A. University of Utah
Julie Tille
Role
- Full-Time Staff and ADJ
- Director, Center for Civic Engagement
Degrees
M.Ed. Westminster College,B.A. Colorado State University
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Mike Zarkin, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Professor
Degrees
Ph.D. University of Florida,M.A. University of Florida,B.A. University of Minnesota
Diversity Strategic Planning
In the fall of 2017, Westminster College embarked on the diversity strategic planning process. Members of the Westminster community engaged in conversations, brainstorming, ideation, and other discussions with the purpose of developing a three-year diversity strategic plan.
LEARN ABOUT THE DIVERSITY STRATEGIC PLAN
Disability Resource Committee
DRC’s primary responsibility is to meet the accommodations of students registered with disability services, hear appeals from students, and communicate policies and procedures to the campus community in an effort to provide education best practices in accordance with the Americans with Disability Act. For more information about the DRC, please contact David Perry at dperry@westminstercollege.edu.
Disability Resource Committee Members
-
Rodney Glore
Role
- Full-Time Staff and ADJ
- Instructional Designer
Degrees
M.Ed. Westminster College,B.A. Westminster College
Pronouns
He/Him/His
Winter Morse
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Director, Client Services
Degrees
M.A.C.L. Westminster College,B.A. Westminster College
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Giancarlo Panagia, Ph.D
Role
- Full-Time Faculty
- Professor
Degrees
J.D. Indiana University,Ph.D. Arizona State University,M.A. University of Utah,M.A. Pennsylvania State University,J.D. Universita Degli Studi Di Firenze
Holly Patterson
Assistant Director, Plant Operations and Purchasing
Holly Patterson
Role
- Full-Time Staff
- Assistant Director, Plant Operations and Purchasing
David Perry
Role
- Full-Time Staff and ADJ
- Director, Academic Administration
Pronouns
He/Him/His
Student Member
Ebony Tyler
Athletics Diversity Committee
Housed in Athletics, the committee is making progress in its implementation of its NCAA diversity plan while adapting the plan as its Westminster unit diversity plan. For members, contact Dr. Susan Heath at sheath@westminstercollege.edu.
International Council
As a committee within Faculty Senate, this Council this Council works in conjunction with the staff of Global Engagement to instill a focus on internationalization and global learning into the College's planning, programs, and consciousness. For more information and members, visit the Office for Global Engagement.
Bias Reporting
Westminster is committed to creating a culture that is welcoming and inclusive. To achieve this goal, we encourage individuals to report occurrences of bias, harassment, and discrimination.
If you feel that you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you should report a Title IX incident. You can also email Title IX Coordinator Mary Royal (mroyal@westminstercollege.edu) and the Title IX Deputy Coordinator Natalie Seely (nseely@westminstercollege.edu), or email the Executive Director of Human Resources, Julie Freestone (jfreestone@westminstercollege.edu).
Diversity Quick Facts
Consistent with our Commitment to an Inclusive Westminster, we strive to diversify our campus through proactive and intentional policies and strategies aimed at the recruitment and retention of students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds.