Center For Multicultural Excellence
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About CME
The Center for Multicultural Excellence (CME) works with students, faculty, staff, and alumni to ensure that the University of Denver (DU) remains an exceptional private institution that achieves excellence through diversity.
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Telephone Number: (303) 871-2942
Facsimile Number: (303) 871-7700
Staff Biographies
Mia Elizardi, M.A.
Assistant Director & Coordinator for Intergroup Relations
Mia moved to Denver in the summer of 2004 from Phoenix, Arizona where she completed her undergraduate work at Arizona State University. She received two Bachelors of Science degrees; one in Human and Family Development and the other in Human Communication emphasizing in Intercultural Communication. Mia also has a Masters in Higher Education with a concentration in Diversity and Higher Learning and a cognate in Conflict Resolution from the University of Denver. Mia has lived and studied abroad, while also working with International Students. Mia 's training is started in international relations, then progressed into race and ethnicity related social justice and white privilege and expanded out to intergroup relations and multiple identities. Mia has attended the Social Justice Training Institute and the White Privilege Conference and facilitates social justice training both at DU, in the Denver community and nationally. At DU, Mia currently leads CME programs such as the Diversity and Unity Leadership Retreat, Voices of Discovery Intergroup Dialogues Program, and the Diversity Summit.
E-mail: mia.elizardi@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-2270
Fernando Guzman, Ph.D.
Assistant Provost for Multicultural Faculty Recruitment and Retention
Fernando, a native of San José, California. Fernando holds a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver, a master’s degree in Counseling from California State University, Sacramento and, has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Santa Clara. His area of expertise is Chicano/a mental health issues, acculturation and ethnic identity development. Fernando brings over 15 years experience in providing and overseeing multicultural mental health services in a variety of settings including universities, justice systems, and non profits. Fernando brings over 13 years experience serving as a board member on a number of local non profits. Fernando has a long history of creating extremely creative and groundbreaking strategies to recruit highly qualified board and staff members of color. As the Assistant Provost for Multicultural Faculty Recruitment and Retention, Fernando, brings a wealth tremendous talent an experience in networking and recruiting talented individuals.
E-mail: fernando.guzman@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-7660
Johanna M. Leyba, M.A.
Assistant Provost for Inclusive Excellence
Johanna is a native of Denver, Colorado. She earned a B. A. in Sociology with an emphasis in ethnic and urban studies from Colorado College in 1994. Her thesis topic was, Identity Formation of Mexican Origin People Living in the United States. In 2002, she earned a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning with an emphasis in Community Development from the University of Colorado at Denver. Johanna came to the Center for Multicultural Excellence in June of 2004. As the Director, she assisted in the growth and development of the Center. Specifically, she helped usher in campus wide support of the Annual Diversity Summit, created the first-year program Excelling Leadership Institute along with Academic Advisor, Melissa Martinez, and provided direction to the overall growth of CME staff and resources. In January of 2008, Johanna became the Assistant Provost for Inclusive Excellence. In this new role, she will work closely with the Associate Provost for Multicultural Excellence and the Assistant Provost for Multicultural Faculty Recruitment and Retention to advance the Inclusive Excellence agenda through campus wide initiatives. She currently heads the campus wide Consortium for Student Success and Inclusive Excellence and is working with the DU Women’s College to implement a departmental-side Inclusive Excellence plan.
E-mail: johanna.leyba@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-7661
Denise Ann Pappas
CME Manager & Assistant to the Associate Provost for Multicultural Excellence
Denise joined the staff of the Center for Multicultural Excellence in September of 2006. She currently serves as the CME Manager and Assistant to the Associate Provost for Multicultural Excellence. She received her B.A. in Speech Communications from Metropolitan State College of Denver in 1995, and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Environmental, Health and Safety Management from the University College in addition to a certificate in Global Health Affairs from the Joseph Korbel School of International Studies. Denise enjoys and has a strong interest in working with students of color, International students, study abroad experiences, and health issues both domestic and internationallly. She was raised on a sugar cane plantation located on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu around a Filipino community built on strong traditions, customs, values and beliefs.
E-mail: Denise.Pappas@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-2507
Tracey Adams-Peters, M.A.
Director & African American Services Coordinator
Tracey Adams-Peters is a native of Denver and her ties to the community are as rich as her own personal history. She is a proud graduate of Denver South High School and graduated from Metropolitan State College of Denver in 2001 with a B. A. in African American Studies, and her Masters degree in Higher Education at DU in 2008. She comes from a long line of personal and professional achievement and endeavors to continue her family’s rich tapestry of personal excellence in the field of education.
It can be said that her dedication to the pursuit of equal education for all is a driving force of her life and pales only in comparison to her love for helping others in need. She is a consummate administrator and takes pride in all duties that she has been assigned. She served for two years as the Chair of the African American Affairs Council at Metropolitan State College. As chair her most rewarding experience included organizing the African American New Student Orientation, the annual African American Student Graduation Ceremony and participating in organizing the annual Martin Luther King Day Peace Breakfast. Tracey has worked with several community organizations including Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Black Education Advisory Council to name a few.
As the Director and African American Service Coordinator, Tracey provides oversight to all programs designed to support undergraduate students, and works closely with African American students, staff, faculty and alumni to ensure the University provides high quality and valuable services. She also works closely with the Associate Provost for Multicultural Excellence in the overall management of the Center.
E-mail: tracey.peters@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-7659
Jesús Treviño, Ph.D.
Associate Provost for Multicultural Excellence
Dr. Jesús Treviño is the Associate Provost for Multicultural Excellence at the University of Denver. Prior to DU, he was at Arizona State University where he held the position of Director of the Intergroup Relations Center, Office of the Senior Vice-President and Provost. He earned his B.A. in 1979 and his M. A. in 1982, both from Eastern Michigan University. In 1992, Jesús graduated from UCLA with both an M. A. and Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis on higher education. Between 1985 and 1988, he worked at Southern Methodist University as the Coordinator of Hispanic Student Services. In 1992, Jesús became Assistant Dean for Cultural Diversity in the Office of Student Life at Arizona State University. His areas of expertise include campus climate issues, campus intergroup relations, diversity training, and the collegiate experiences of students of color.
E-mail: jesús.trevino@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-2591
Thomas Walker, M.A.
Associate Director & LGBTIQA and Social Justice Initiatives Coordinator
Thomas previously served as Assistant Director of Arizona State University’s Intergroup Relations Center, where he coordinated diversity education programs, teaching and research for faculty, staff, students and the larger community. In eight years there, he also served as liaison to the ASU LGBTIQ community and advisor to ASU’s LGBTQ Student Coalition. Thomas was also involved in the Phoenix area LGBTQ communities including programming, training, and as co-director of the Bj Budd Memorial Library & Archives. He has been engaged in the diversity and social justice field for nearly two decades, working with NCCJ-Anytown, the National Coalition-Building Institute, the Southern Institute for Education and Research, C. Harris Companies, Inc. consulting, the Social Justice Training Institute, and the University of Michigan-based Multiversity Intergroup Dialogue (MIGR) Research Project. Thomas studied at the Victoria University of Manchester, England; received his bachelor's in Interpersonal and Group Communication from Tulane University; and his Master's in Intercultural Communication at ASU, and will complete his doctorate there this fall.
E-Mail: Thomas.Walker@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-4614