Ahmed Wafai (he/him/his) 

Student Retention and Community Development Specialist 

Salam Alikum! Ahmed Wafai serves as the Student Retention and Community Development Specialist at Equity & Inclusion. In this role, he focuses on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus. Ahmed currently manages the RISE Scholars program, supporting first-year college students from underrepresented communities. He is deeply committed to helping students, ensuring everyone has equal opportunities. Having graduated from UWT in 2023 with a degree in Business Administration, Ahmed is dedicated to professional growth and making a positive impact at UWT. He continues to be passionate about supporting his Pakistani community and creating safe spaces for marginalized students. As a first-generation college student and the oldest sibling in his family, Ahmed remains actively engaged in these pursuits. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with loved ones, being active in his Pakistani community, and going on weekend adventures.

"Shukaria ap ke wakat ke liya" - Thank you for your time

Ken Tuckfield (he/him/his) 

Native Indigenous Student Success Specialist

Hello! My name is Ken Tuckfield, I am an Inupiaq Alaskan Native and I am truly thrilled to work at UW Tacoma as the Native and Indigenous Student Success Specialist! I am working to build a vibrant Native and Indigenous community of scholars at UW Tacoma. UW Tacoma already has a Native American/Indigenous RSO, The Cedar Circle. This group has strong leadership and puts on great activities, and I will work to support their vision. I will support The Cedar Circle to organize events and activities that build community among the Native and Indigenous students, and the UW Tacoma campus as a whole. UW Tacoma also has an engaged cohort of Native American faculty, and I am beyond excited to partner with them for broader planning and organization. Finally, I will continue fostering collaborative relationships with the local tribes. Partnering with local tribes, both at UW Tacoma and on Tribal Reservations, will grow collaborative communities that support each other! Outside of work I have a number of interesting hobbies. I love being active; I regularly hike, bike, run, and do yoga. I also love music; I collect vinyl records and love going to concerts!

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.

Siri Tiger Kuyera Kaunda

Program Support Supervisor

Siri works in the Office of Equity and Inclusion, collaborating with student-staff who work in the Food Pantry and the Center for Equity and Inclusion. She is a white cis-woman who has spent most of her life on the traditional lands of the Puyallup people between the Salish Sea and Mount Tahoma. She is a National Board Certified Teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching in Tacoma, as well as in Thailand and South Africa. Siri has also worked as a visual artist. She is passionate about decolonizing education systems and increasing equitable outcomes and experiences for students. Her goal is to contribute to fostering radical belonging at UW Tacoma. Siri loves learning languages, swimming in open water, being in nature, playing and laughing with her family (including two school-age kids), and living life in community with dear friends.