Andrea Herrera, professor of women’s and ethnic studies and associate vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion, will return to the faculty effective Nov. 1.
“I am grateful for Andrea’s years of dedicated service in this critical role for our campus,” Chancellor Venkat Reddy said. “Stephany Rose Spaulding, associate professor and director of women’s and ethnic studies, will begin leading equity, diversity and inclusion efforts on campus in an interim capacity until the successful completion of a national search. I am excited to work closely with her in this new role as we continue our work to create a culture of inclusive belonging for every member of the UCCS community.”
Spaulding will serve in the new role part-time over the remainder of the fall semester as she performs her duties as a faculty member and director of women’s and ethnic studies. She will assume the role full-time effective Jan. 1, 2021 and will stay in the role until the successful completion of a national search, to be initiated in spring 2021.
“I believe universities have the potential to be sites and models of justice for our society – where we can explore, embrace and better our whole individual and collective selves through a living practice of equity, diversity and inclusion,” Spaulding said.
As a founder and member of the board of directors for the Truth and Conciliation Commission, Spaulding is a national leader in advocating for a more socially just society. She is also active in Colorado Springs as senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, board member of RawTools, Inc., a member of the board of directors for the Colorado Foundation for Universal Health Care and advisory board member for the UCCS Matrix Center for the Advancement of Social Equity and Inclusion. She is a 2020 Colorado Springs Business Journal Women of Influence recipient. She was recognized in 2019 with the Southern Colorado Ally Award, in 2013 with a CU President’s Fund for Humanities award and in 2012 as M.O.S.A.I.C.’s Outstanding Advisor of the Year.
Spaulding teaches, writes and researches on the intersections of race, gender, class, religion and equity. Her research focuses on the socio-cultural impacts of racialized representations of individuals and communities in English language literatures and popular culture from the United States and the African diaspora. One of her most rewarding academic achievements was guest lecturing at the Sorbonne in Paris, France in 2011.