Diversity Center

Who do we serve?

We serve any student who needs us. Students of all backgrounds and identities are welcome. We invite you to visit the DEIC, where you can connect and build community with students from across the campus, get support from our dedicated staff, or attend workshops and events. At the DEIC, we work to empower students to reach their academic, professional, and personal goals!

Pictured above: Alumnus Jason Barnett, Barbara Clarkson, Alumna Vanessa Enendu

IGNITE Program

IGNITE is a support program for students whose identities have historically had systemic barriers in higher education. This program is geared toward students who are low-income, students of color, students with a disability, students that identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and students whose parents did not go to college. IGNITE offers community and support services to get through college and graduate!

Workshops

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion workshops and discussions let you expand your perspective and share your experiences at the DEIC and Student Life events. Visit the Student Events calendar for opportunities to get involved!

To request a workshop, please email the Director of the DEIC, Jasmin Faulk-Dickerson at jfaulk-dickerson@spscc.edu.

Safe Zone

Safe Zones provide a safe space or refuge where you can turn when your safety is immediately threatened, and/or you are experiencing bigotry of any kind. Look for the sign below outside of rooms or in staff/faculty email signatures.

Barbara Clarkson

Throughout Clarkson’s 14 years as a member of the SPSCC Board of Trustees, she served as liaison to the SPSCC Foundation, committing her own time and resources to connect the Foundation to the community and create a network devoted to supporting student success. And through her work with the Thurston Group of Washington State, she championed access to higher education for African-American and underrepresented students, sending hundreds of youth from the Pacific Northwest to college with over $8 million in scholarships. Clarkson retired from the Board in 2019. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Center was later renamed the A. Barbara Clarkson Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Center in honor of Clarkson's tireless commitment to equity and access to education.

Mission

The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Center will:

• Be a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion.
• Provide expertise and leadership on diversity and inclusion-related matters; for example, engagement, retention, and learning.
• Lead College-wide programming efforts, resulting in a collaborative and inclusive vision of diversity and inclusion.
• Identify strategies to enhance and nurture the compositional diversity profile and inclusive experience of students, faculty, and staff.
• Provide resources and direction for infusing diversity into the curriculum.
• Strategically design and implement the Center’s programs to increase student retention and completion.