A Quartet of African Americans Who Are Taking on New Roles in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Michelle Foster was appointed the inaugural assistant dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the College of Health and Human Sciences at Colorado State University. She is an associate professor in the department of food science and human nutrition at the university.

Dr. Foster is a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta. She holds a Ph.D. in neurobiology and behavior from Georgia State University in Atlanta.

B. Sherrance Russell was named assistant vice chancellor for student diversity initiatives at the University of Missouri. He is the former vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at Central State University in Ohio. Dr. Russell has also held enrollment management positions at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, and Langston University in Oklahoma.

Dr. Russell is a graduate of Texas Southern University in Houston. He holds a master’s degree in urban education from Langston University and a Ph.D. in urban higher education from Jackson State University in Mississippi.

Anita Dashiell-Sparks was appointed director of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the School of Dramatic Arts at the University of Southern California. She is an associate professor of theatre practice at the university.

Dashiell-Sparks holds a master of fine arts degree from New York University.

Kristina Marshall, department chair of human services for the Baker College System in Michigan and the program director of social sciences on the Owosso campus was named diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for the college. She will retain her other duties.

Marshall holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and speech communication from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She earned a juris doctorate from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan.

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