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R.I.S.E. Certificate Program

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About the Program

The TCU R.I.S.E. Certificate Program is hosted in partnership between TCU Human Resources and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The TCU R.I.S.E. Certificate is designed to provide participants tools and learning opportunities to advance personal and professional development in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Selected participants will be challenged to:

  • Improve their intercultural development through personal assessment
  • Strengthen skills in advocacy and social change activism
  • Develop strategies to interrupt structural and systemic issues of power, privilege, and oppression.

The TCU R.I.S.E Certificate program graduates will be empowered to move concepts into concrete action.

2024-2025 Session Dates

All sessions will take place from 9 a.m. – noon. Participants must attend all sessions to receive the TCU R.I.S.E. Certificate.

  • Session 1 - Expanding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Awareness - October 18
  • Session 2 - Developing & Demonstrating Intercultural Competence - November 15
  • Session 3 - Understanding Social Justice & Systems of Oppression – December 6
  • Session 4 - Interrupting the “isms” - February 7
  • Session 5 - Agency & Action: becoming an Agent of Change - March 7
  • Session 6 - Utilizing an Inclusive Excellence Framework - April 11
  • Closing Celebration - May 14

For more information please email Suhail Johnson at Suhail.Johnson@tcu.edu or Aisha Torrey-Sawyer at a.sawyer@tcu.edu.

Texas Christian University Receives CUPA-HR’s Inclusion Cultivates Excellence Award

  • Britny Adkison, Family Liaison, Starpoint/College of Education

    Action Plan: Froggie Friends Initiative

  • Ariane Balizet, Professor of English; Associate Dean for Faculty and DEI   

    Action Plan: THRIVE Initiative

  • Annie Dervishi, Budget Analyst, Finance & Administration         

    Action Plan: Pathway to Next: Inclusive Excellence for the Finance & Administration Unit

  • Jennifer Dias, Lecturer, Psychology       

    Action Plan: Diversity in Psychology-Course Creation

  • Romelia Gallegos, Area Supervisor, Residential Housekeeping          

    Action Plan: Comprende? Spanish Language Safety Skills Training

  • Jerry Garcia, Instructor, History    

    Action Plan: Diversifying Curriculum in History Department

  • *Lizzette Green, Associate Director- Access Initiatives, Admission     

    Action Plan: Inclusive Excellence Leadership Symposium

  • Terrence Kirk, Compensation Assistant, Human Resources      

    Action Plan:  Recruitment, Retention & Career Development of People with Visible/Non-Visible Disabilities

  • *Colleen McColgan, Transfer Admission Counselor, Admission

    Action Plan: Inclusive Excellence Training for Office of Admissions

  • Lea McCracken, Associate Chaplain and Church Relations Officer, Religious & Spiritual Life         

    Action Plan: Know Your Neighbor Workshop

  • Andrea McDew, Title IX Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity       

    Action Plan: Consent Campaign--Sexual Assault on Campus

  • Regina Middleton, Assistant Registrar, Training & Professional Development      

    Action Plan: Advancing Inclusive Excellence within the Office of the Registrar

  • Jennifer O'Keefe, Academic Advisor, College of Communication        

    Action Plan: Transfer Student Support in College of Communication

  • Carrie Patterson, Instructional Designer, School of Medicine    

    Action Plan: DEI Micro-Learning for School of Medicine

  • Shweta Reddy, Professor, Fashion Merchandising 

    Action Plan:

  • Brandon Timmon, Customer Support Consultant II, Information Technology

    Action Plan: Enhancing Facilities & Housekeeping Staff Engagement

  • *Kelly Trager, Asst. Professor of Professional Practice, Entrepreneurship & Innovation

    Action Plan: Increasing Women in Business Network

  • Bianca Upshaw, Graduate Academic Advisor, Neeley Graduate Programs

    Action Plan: Neeley in Color: Supporting Black Students in Academic Crisis

  • Sarah Walters, Coordinator, Music Admissions, School of Music         

    Action Plan: Equitable Admission Process (School of Music)

  • Kristina White, Clinical Education Coordinator, Kinesiology       

    Action Plan: Graduate Student Parental Leave

 

  • Emily Barrios, Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship Coordinator, School of Medicine

    Action Plan: Prioritizing DEI Learning in Department

  • Ahrein Bennett, Public Health Research Associate

    Action Plan: Lack of Priority and values of cultural sensitivity in research

  • Leah Carnahan, Assistant Director, Counseling Center (CARE)

    Action Plan: Strategic Plan for TCU CARE Office

  • Dave Cooper, Assistant Dean, Dean of Student Office

    Action Plan: Restorative Justice Model for Student Conduct

  • Gigi Dean, Executive Assistant for Vice Chancellor of Marketing & Communication

    Action Plan: DEI Audit for TCU Marketing & Communications Department Suppliers

  • Philip Dodd, Director, Leadership & Experiential Learning 

    Action Plan: DEIB Training for Student Leadership & Involvement Staff and Student Leaders

  • Kate Evans, Lab Coordinator, Nutritional Sciences 

    Action Plan: Plan to Encourage TCU Administration to Respond to Food Insecurity on Campus

  • Miriam Ezzani, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Leadership & Higher Education

    Action Plan: Align College of Education with Inclusive Excellence Framework toolkit

  • Eric Gilbert, Police Sergeant, TCU Police

    Action Plan: TCU Police Strategies for Community Outreach

  • Benjamin Janesko, Professor and Chair, Chemistry & Biochemistry

    Action Plan: Global Excellence Position in the College of Science and Engineering

  • Cecilia Lo-Chien Kao, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Music

    Action Plan: Impact of Raised TOEFL Requirements on Students

  • Cebrail Karayigit, Associate Professor, Counseling & Counselor Education

    Action Plan: Advocacy training for Counseling graduate students

  • Jackie Keiser, Senior User Interface Developer, TCU Marketing & Communication

    Action Plan: TCU Strategic Accessibility Program

  • Brandon Manning, Associate Professor of English

    Action Plan: Implement Assessment to Measure Student Belonging

  • Susie Olmos-Soto, Senior Consultant, Human Resources

    Action Plan: Building Community & Academic Success Through Language

  • LaTrina Parker Hall, Director, McNair Program

    Action Plan: Mentoring Program for Underrepresented Frogs

  • Cameron Potter, Manager of Employee Success, Human Resources

    Action Plan: Create DEI Dashboards for Managers & Departments

  • Khadevis Robinson, Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Athletics

    Action Plan: Community engagement through proactive partnerships

  • Reggie Wilburn, Associate Provost, Undergraduate Affairs

    Action Plan: Eliminate Equitable Success Barriers for Students

  • Olivia Williams, Director, Neeley Graduate Academic Programs

    Action Plan: Community Engaged Speaker Series

  • Amy Peterson
    Social Media Manager, Marketing & Communication

  • Amy Stewert
    Instructor, School of Music

  • Andrea Kaelin
    Associate Head Coach, Women’s Golf
  • Brooke Scogin
    Director, Fraternity and Sorority Life
  • Caroline Collier
    Director of Editorial Services, Marketing & Communication
  • Charles Dewar
    IT Coordinator, IT
  • Chris Gilbody
    Director, Financial Education & Scholarship, TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine
  • Clint Thomas
    Director, Asset Management & Technical Services, Facility Services
  • Crystal Page
    Care Coordinator, Dean of Students Office
  • Dora Aguilera
    Administrative Assistant, Campus Recreation 
  • Eric Simanek
    Professor, Chemistry
  • Erin Houchin
    Director of Brite Housing, Brite Divinity School
  • Glenda Daniels
    Associate Professor, Nursing
  • Isuru Perera
    Research Compliance Coordinator, Office of Research & Graduate Studies
  • Krista Scott
    Associate Professor, Theatre
  • Lynita Yarbrough
    Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, Communication Sciences & Disorders
  • Lynné Cravens
    Art Galleries Manager, School of Art
  • Marc Melanson
    Assistant Manager, Facility Services
  • Mat Wenzel
    Instructor, English
  • Mayra Guardiola
    Faculty Development Coordinator, Office of Faculty Affairs & Development, TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine
  • Meredith Curtis
    Instructor, Biology
  • Shelia Williams
    Executive Assistant, Office of the Provost 
  • Angela Gonzaga, Director of Operations, Women’s Basketball

    Action Plan: Create a DEI Training Tracking Tool for Athletics Department

  • Ann Tasby, Program Director, Accounting and Office of Inclusive Excellence Neeley School of Business

    Action Plan: Undergraduate Mentoring for Students of Color

  • Anne Rooney, Executive Director Graduate Programs, Neeley School of Business

    Action Plan: Prepare Neeley MBA and MS graduates to lead inclusively and to advocate for DE&I in their post-graduate careers.

  • Brian Gutierrez, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration

    Action Plan: Create a plan to Diversify Candidate Slates for High Level Hiring

  • Candice Payne, Director, Budget Office

    Action Plan: Create Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Inclusive Excellence Initiative

  • David Dibble, Director of Parent Giving, University Advancement

    Action Plan: Increase Awareness of TCU Donors to the urgency and importance of DEI initiatives

  • Dr. Eric Yorkston, Department Chair and Associate Professor, Marketing Department

    Action Plan: Create a Recruitment plan to diversify enrollment in Neeley sales certificate program

  • Dr. Frank Hernandez, Dean, College of Education

    Action Plan: Development of an Employee Resource Group (ERG) focused specifically on Latinx males

  • Imani Wimberly, Assistant Director of Residence Life, Housing & Residence Life

    Action Plan: Create a food pantry on campus for students navigating food insecurity

  • Dr. Janine Kraus, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Loyalty Giving

    Action Plan: Adding focus on DEI initiatives in University Advancement new employee orientation

  • Jess Price, Academic Advisor, John V. Roach Honors College

    Action Plan: Improved Honors Experience for First-Generation Students

  • Kelcia Righton, Hall Director, Housing & Residence Life

    Action Plan: Create a mentorship program within the residence halls for incoming females of color

  • Lindsay Cowdin, Coordinator of Theatre Operations, Theater Department

    Action Plan: Create a Recruitment Plan to attract a more diverse student body for the theatre program

  • Melissa Austin-Weeks, Associate Director of Alumni Relations, Alumni Relations

    Action Plan: Generating Effective DEI Training for Alumni Association Volunteers

  • Sara Sorenson, Assistant Director of Admission Programs, Office of Admissions

    Action Plan: Create an Inclusive Excellence Scholarship for enrolling first-year students

  • Dr. Sophia Garcia, Biology Instructor, College of Science and Engineering

    Action Plan: Creating Equitable Access to Student Research Opportunities in the College of Science and Engineering

  • Stephen Dominy, Associate Director, Fraternity & Sorority Life

    Action Plan: Enhance recruitment and retention efforts of diverse graduate student candidates in the Higher Education Leadership program

  • Suhail Johnson, Senior Coordinator, TCU and UNT Health Science Center School of Medicine Office of Diversity and Inclusion

    Action Plan: Create a Communication Plan for Student Interest Groups

  • Dr. Trung Nguyen, Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

    Action Plan: Provide Mental Health Support for BIPOC Faculty and Staff

  • Dr. Vanessa Roberts-Bryan, Assistant Dean of Student Development, Student Development Services

    Action Plan: Focus on the Role of Staff Assembly as DEI Change Agents

  • Dr. Wendy Macias, Associate Professor, Strategic Communication

    Action Plan: Schieffer College Recruiting & Sustaining Inclusive Undergraduate Excellence

  • Dr. Will Gibbons, Associate Dean/Associate Professor, College of Fine Arts

    Action Plan: Incentivize and Recognize DEI Efforts in the College of Fine Arts

  • Dr. Zoranna Jones, Assistant Dean, School of Interdisciplinary Studies

    Action Plan: Designing DEI Education and Training for Introduction to University Life Course Instructors