Nicole Jordan (They/She)

Director of Center of Equity and Inclusion

Nicole Jordan uses she/her & they/them pronouns and identifies as Black, queer, womxn. Born and raised in Hilltop, Tacoma, WA, their deep investment in advocacy, leadership, and youth development began locally. They graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and from Evergreen State College with a Master’s in Public Administration. Nicole has served as an AmeriCorps volunteer, advocated for incarcerated youth, partnered with youth in foster care, and worked in higher education. As Director of Cross-Cultural Engagement in the Office of Equity and Inclusion at UW Tacoma, her focus is on uplifting and building capacity for the most marginalized people to thrive holistically, while partnering with allies to reduce harm and create equitable change. Their work aims to foster authentic relationship building and collaboration with UWT and community partners to promote a more equitable and inclusive experience.

Tanya Grace Velasquez(She/her) 

Interim Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion

Tanya Grace Velasquez is a Teaching Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington Tacoma where she has taught Sociology, Asian American studies, and Ethnic, Gender and Labor Studies since 2011. After several years as a Student Affairs professional she earned her M.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences from the University of Washington Tacoma with an emphasis in race and ethnic studies, and culturally sustaining pedagogies. She served as the Director of Faculty engagement and anti-racist initiatives for the Office of Equity and Inclusion from 2020 – 2022 and has led a variety of local and regional Faculty Learning Communities since 2018. She also served as a board member for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Cross Institutional Faculty of Color Mentoring program. In 2017 and 2022 Tanya was awarded Outstanding Faculty by the student body and in 2020 she received UW Tacoma's award in excellence for distinguished teaching. She is currently serving as a co-PI for an AANAPISI grant from the U.S. Department of Education, dedicated to supporting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and low-income students.