Rashida Willard leads college equity work supporting students, faculty and staff
Clark College announced today November 14, 2019 that Rashida Willard has accepted the position of Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the college effective immediately.
“Rashida has earned the respect of her peers, our students and thecommunity as a strong and effective leader,” said Clark College InterimPresident Sandra Fowler-Hill who made the appointment. “She has created anddeveloped structures, spaces and programs to help remove barriers for studentsand she’s leading the effort to create a culturally competent campus to helpstudents succeed. The college is thrilled to make this announcement.”
Willard joined Clark College four years ago as Operations Managerof Administrative Services. She has taught as an adjunct professor, has servedas Director of Operations and Risk Manager, and for the past 17 months hasserved as Interim Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
During that time, she has developed, aligned and integrated newand existing initiatives and procedures into a cohesive platform to foster amore inclusive, welcoming and diverse college community.
“I am deeply invested in this work, and am passionate aboutcreating inclusive, safe and welcoming environments where all students have maximum opportunities to succeed,” Willard said.“I am eager to move forward in community and collaboration, building on ourteam’s momentum of the last several months.”
Willard wasa participant and graduate of the Social Justice Leadership Institute for theWashington State Community College System in 2017-2018 and was nominated as aReal Hero by the Learn Here Project in 2018. She is also a part of theVancouver Police Chief’s Diversity Advisory Team.
Willardholds a master’s degree in Business Administration, a bachelor’s degree inBusiness Administration, and an associate degree in Organizational Dynamics.She is currently attending Concordia University, pursuing a doctorate inEducation with a concentration in Professional Leadership, Inquiry andTransformation. Her current research explores strategies that faculty and staffemploy to create culturally engaging spaces for students of color attendingpredominantly white institutions and how campus racial climate affects theirpersistence and completion rates. This research will be used to examine andidentify strategies to close the equity gap among students of color in highereducation.
