Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Leadership
Jessica Brown leads the office as Chief Diversity Officer. She works to develop a comprehensive and cross-functional emphasis on these critical issues at SC4. Brown has more than a decade of higher education experience, having worked previously at Davenport University, Rochester College and Macomb Community College before joining the SC4 team in 2014.
As Chief Diversity Officer, Brown oversees the TRIO Student Support Services Program, a program she also served as the director from September 2015 until July 2020. The program works with first-generation and other high-risk college students to support them throughout their college careers and has been very successful in increasing student retention and graduation.
She also is a member of SC4’s Global Diversity Advisory Council. Brown has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in strategic management from Davenport University.
According to Brown, her vision is that “we come together to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity, preserve the educational, socioeconomic, and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community. When we open our ears to hear and our hearts to receive is when change begins to happen.”
Global Diversity Advisory Council
Mission statement: To advise the college on actions to bring together the college-served communities, SC4 faculty, staff and students in support of the DEI office and initiatives that will promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
Below is a list of Task Force groups within GDAC that will help in delivering key events throughout the upcoming school year:
President – Kirk Kramer
Director – Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Jessica Brown
Task force #1
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration – to support the DEI office with coordinating the MLK celebratory events.
Members:
Kevin Totty, Cara DenUyl, Kevin Watkins, Alphonso Amos, Joi Price
Task force #2
Juneteenth – to support the DEI office with coordinating educational events to bring forth awareness of Juneteenth history and legacy.
Members:
Joi Price, Alphonso Amos, Kevin Watkins, Kevin Totty
Task force #3
Students United – to support the DEI office with assistance on student focus groups along with promoting multicultural awareness of opportunities for engagement.
Members:
Lisa Beedon, Brent Forsgren, Bethany Mayea, Shawne Jowett, Donna Galvan, Elizabeth Jacoby, Sherry Artman, Paul Bedard, Scott Fernandez, James Frank, Chris Hilton, Cat Jeffers-Goodwine, Jim Jones, Anne McPherson, Bob Hunckler, Brandy Johnston
Task force #4
Community Outreach – to support the DEI office’s reach into the communities served by the college in support of DEI events or activities.
Members:
Lisa Beedon, Alphonso Amos, Melissa Amos, LaTanga Christmas, Laura Burrell, Nigar Hussain, Ms. Juanita Taylor, Randy Fernandez
“When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become a wiser, more inclusive, and a better organization.”
– Pat Wadors, Chief Talent Officer / Service Now
