Who We Are

Preferred Name Pronouns Job Title Department Identities, Affiliations and Interests
Julie Curtis She/Her Senior Financial Aid Counselor Financial Aid Office Agnostic, Raised in a Midwestern Small Town, Animal Rights Activist, FEMA/American Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Project Supporter, Financial Wellness, Food Insecurity and Homelessness Prevention, Volunteering and Giving Back to Community
Hanna Eden She/Her Human Resources Generalist Human Resources Christian, First-Gen College Student, German & Irish Heritage, I love the outdoors, reading, traveling and dogs
Kip Kussman He/Him Dean of Students Dean of Students Office Jewish Heritage, ADHD, Gardening, Outdoors, Student Development, Reading
Kristen Landaal She/Her Assistant Director of Campus Life Campus Life Leadership and Student Development, Student Involvement and Engagement, Campus Traditions, Service-Learning and Community Engagement, Interfaith Relations, Mental Health and Holistic Well-Being Advocacy
Candela Marini She/Her/Ella Assistant Professor of Latin American Studies, Co-Director Honors Program, Spanish Certificate Coordinator Humanities, Social Science and Communication Latin America, Spanish, Honors Program, Community Projects, Tango, Visual Studies, Arts & Culture, History, (neo) Colonialisms, Argentina
Joshua Mitchell He/Him Dean of Residence Life Residence Life First-Gen, Low-Income, Disability, Leadership, Student Development, Student Mental Health and Well-Being
Seandra Mitchell She/Her Vice President of Student Affairs and Campus Inclusion Student Affairs African American, English, Christian, I love gardening, traveling and trying new restaurants
Leah Newman She/Her Program Director/Associate Professor Industrial Engineering Program, Mechanical Engineering Department Mechanical Engineering African American/Black, English, First Generation College Student, Christian/Ecumenical, LGBTQ+ Ally, Spiritual/Universal Ally, love animals especially dogs, reading, movies and other pop culture "stuff" like the idea of traveling the world
Annette Pirrung She/Her Assistant Director of Communication Marketing Communications Communications Expert, speak conversational Spanish, I love the outdoors, hiking, biking and yoga
Luis A. Rodriguez He/Him Associate Professor Mechanical Engineering Latino, Spanish, Mexican Immigrant, First Generational College Student, Catholic, Running, Playing Soccer, Hiking, Gardening
Leo Schauer He/Him Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs Multicultural Affairs Asian American, LGBTQ+, Buddhism, Human Migration, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Thabiso Shabangu Motho Web Services Admin IT - Digital Applications and Systems Afrikan, Botho, Speaking seven South Afrikan languages, Mapulana and Swati heritage, play and love football
Katie Toske She/Her Director of Multicultural Affairs Multicultural Affairs English and Writing Instructor, Global Opportunities, International Student Support, Working Mom
Hannah Trees She/Her Associate Athletic Director and Women's Basketball Coach Athletics LGBTQ+, English, Vegan/GF, Travel, Reading, trying new restaurants
Davinci Wallace He/Him Coordinator of Athletic Recruitment/Assistant Women's Basketball Coach/Admissions Counselor Admissions African American, Christianity

Diversity Council Goals

DEIB Strategic Plan Goal Alignment

  • Goal 5: Foster and Sustain a Welcoming Feeling of Belonging for All Internal and External Stakeholders
  • Action h: Explore the value of affinity for faculty and staff

Extraordinary Together Strategic Plan Goal Alignment

  • Strategy 1: Recruit and Retain Outstanding Faculty and Staff who share our core values and who are committed to personal growth

DEIB Strategic Plan Goal Alignment

  • Goal 5: Foster and sustain a Welcoming Feeling of Belonging for All Internal and External Stakeholders.

Extraordinary Together Strategic Plan Goal Alignment

  • Strategy 1: Recruit and Retain Outstanding Faculty and Staff who share our core values and who are committed to personal growth

DEIB Strategic Plan Goal Alignment

  • Goal 5: Foster and sustain a Welcoming Feeling of Belonging for All Internal and External Stakeholders
  • Action g: Create a DEIB Ambassador Program for faculty & staff and students

Extraordinary Together Strategic Plan Goal Alignment

  • Strategy 1: Recruit and retain Outstanding Faculty and Staff who share our core values and who are committed to personal growth

DEIB Strategic Plan Goal Alignment

  • Goal 5: Foster and Sustain and Welcoming Feeling of Belonging for All Internal and External Stakeholders

DEIB Strategic Plan Goal Alignment

  • Goal 5: Foster and Sustain and Welcoming Feeling of Belonging for All Internal and External Stakeholders

Extraordinary Together Strategic Plan Goal Alignment

  • Strategy 1: Recruit and Retain Outstanding Faculty and Staff who share our core values and who are committed to personal growth

DEIB Strategic Plan Goal Alignment

  • Goal 2: Enhance Services and Practices that Support an Inclusive Organizational Culture

Extraordinary Together Strategic Plan Goal Alignment

  • Strategy 1: Recruit and Retain Outstanding Faculty and Staff who share our core values and who are committed to personal growth

Accomplishments

The Diversity Council has accomplished several of its goals, including but not limited to:

  • Defining DEIB. The Diversity Council defined diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, what they mean at MSOE and how they are central to reaching our continual goals of academic excellence and global engagement. View the definitions.
  • Commitment to DEIB added to campus. The Diversity Council added artwork showcasing MSOE’s Commitment to DEIB statement to every building on campus. Adding this artwork to high-traffic areas increases awareness of our commitment.
  • Family Leave Policy update. The Diversity Council worked with the Human Resources Department to update the Family Leave Policy, which provides four weeks of paid parental leave per calendar year immediately following the birth or adoption of a child. Leave is available to those who meet the eligibility requirements.