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. www.facebook.com
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Telephone Number: (303) 871-2942
Facsimile Number: (303) 871-7700
Staff Biographies
Johanna 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
Tracey Peters
Associate Director & African American Services Coordinator
Tracey 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. She is currently in pursuit of her Masters degree in Higher Education at the University of Denver. 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 Associate Director and African American Service Coordinator, Tracey will provide oversight over all programs designed to support undergraduate students, work closely with African American students, staff, faculty and alumni to ensure the University provides high quality and valuable services. She will also work closely with the Director in the overall management of the Center.
E-mail: tracey.peters@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-7659
Mia Elizardi
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. During her undergraduate career, Mia worked on numerous research teams ranging from Prevention Science to Adolescence Developmental Psychology. In addition to her research experience, she has also lived and studied abroad in Italy while also working with International Students in programs such as International Conversations Partners and the Voices of Discovery Intergroup Dialogues Program. Mia 's training is primarily in race and ethnicity related social justice and white privilege. Mia has attended the Social Justing Training Institute and the White Privilege Conference and facilitates social justice trainings both at DU and in the Denver community. At DU, Mia currently leads CME programs such as the Diversity and Unity Leadership Retreat, Voices of Discovery Intergroup Dialogues Program, the Diversity Summit and the Cocial Justice Ally Institute.
E-mail: mia.elizardi@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-2270
Sarah J. Nickels, MSW
Assistant Director & Coordinator for LGBTIQA and Social Justice Initiatives
Sarah J. Nickels hails from the Midwest where she completed a B. A. in Women’s Studies and French and a Master of Social Work degree at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Sarah began her career as an advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Michigan, Massachusetts, and Colorado. Her involvement in the anti-violence field led her to deepen her understanding of and passion for social justice education and ally development. Since moving to Denver in 2003, Sarah has been an educator, consultant, facilitator, program coordinator, and direct service provider focusing on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer/questioning (LGBTIQ) communities and anti-racism/white privilege work. Most recently, she worked with the OASOS Program of Boulder County Public Health where she provided advocacy and support services for LGBTIQ youth in Boulder County. In her position at CME, Sarah develops collaborative programming to support the DU LGBTIQ community and allies, including students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Sarah also facilitates inter group dialogue and social justice education to promote a positive campus climate for diversity.
E-mail: sarah.nickels@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-4614
Denise Pappas-Lucero
CME Manager & Assistant to the Associate Provost for Multicultural Excellence
Denise 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. She received her B.A. in Speech Communications from Metropolitan State College of Denver in 1995, and has volunteered on several local low-budget full length feature films, Denver theaters, and in the Educational Collections Department at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. In addition to her interest in working with students of color she also has a strong interest regarding health issues. She is looking forward to obtaining a master’s degree from DU in the field of International Studies with an emphasis in Global Health Affairs.
E-mail: denise.pappas-lucero@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-2507
Theresa Garza
American Indian Services Coordinator
Theresa came to the Center for Multicultural Excellence with a B. S. in Counseling with an emphasis in Domestic Violence and Addiction Studies. Currently enrolled as a graduate student working on a Masters in Social Work from the GSSW Program at DU, Theresa brings experience working in the area of Indian Child Welfare as part of a national foster care foundation. Through this work, Theresa has gained valuable experience, knowledge and understanding of the various needs, approaches, values and cultural identities of the rich American Indian population throughout the United States. Her interests and passion are to improve the lives of children and families in tribal and urban communities by helping them to become stronger as individuals, parents and families. As the American Indian Service Coordinator, Theresa is responsible for assisting in the coordination of services aimed at celebrating, valuing and supporting the American Indian community at DU.
E-mail: mary.garza@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-7598
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
Fernando Guzman, Ph.D.
Assistant Provost for Multicultural Faculty Recruitment and Retention
F
ernando, 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