Several staff and leadership changes are completed, enhancing the School’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as well as the Office of Field Education.
Diversity, equity and Inclusion: Kalei Kanuha (pictured left) will be the new assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion as well as a full-time senior lecturer. For more than four decades, Kalei has been an activist, therapist, consultant and researcher with a focus on gender violence against women and children, and the intersection of race/ethnicity and gender and sexual identity. She has worked as a community-based researcher and consultant with organizations in Hawaii and the continental U.S. and lectures widely on social justice issues.
As the former assistant dean of field education, Kalei will leverage her wealth of teaching and mentoring experience as she continues the groundbreaking work of Margaret Spearmon, who retired earlier this year as the School’s chief officer of community engagement and diversity.
Margaret remains part of our leadership team as she transitions to a new position — community engagement director, where she’ll use her extensive experience to direct and deepen the School’s commitment to community, particularly around such innovative initiatives as the Othello-UW Commons.
Office of Field Education: Rachel Wrenn will serve as interim assistant dean for field education, an area she knows well: She was director of the field education program from 1995 to 1999 and has many years’ experience as a field education faculty member. Working with Rachel will be Michelle Bagshaw, who is expanding her duties as assistant director for field education to provide guidance and leadership during this interim time.
“We are deeply grateful to Margaret, Kalei, Rachel and Michelle for their past contributions,” said Tessa Evans-Campbell, associate dean for academic affairs. “Their vision, commitment and focus will continue to support and strengthen our School community as we launch the new academic year.”