Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Staff
Dr. Michelle Cromwell
Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At the risk of sounding overly simplistic, my work is to demonstrate that people matter.
As VP for Diversity Equity and Inclusion, I pride myself on being a servant leader.
In that role, I strive to facilitate that varied members of SUNY Plattsburgh’s community
feel seen, and know that they matter. This requires that I inspire, encourage, and
challenge us as a college to have programs, policies and practices that embrace everyone’s
humanity. For this reason, I say that my work is truly centered on demonstrating that
all people and their range of human experiences matter. That said, I am aware of and
responsive to the suffering and injustices that continue to plague members of our
community who exist in the margins and are marginalized. Even in current times of
volatility, uncertainty, and complexity I am committed to helping this college community
to be inclusive, just, welcoming, and responsive.
Jenny Vernet
Program Coordinator
I yearn for us as a community but also as a human collective to achieve optimum wellness
and cognizance. When we put this effort into ourselves we are able to interact with
each other in a way that is a true exchange of our human experiences. When we begin
to understand where we are and our postionality we will have the ability to listen
and understand without judgment and without being guarded. By listening to understand,
we are able to help, heal and learn from each other. I believe that this is how we
can change the way we treat each other.
I hope to assist in creating spaces that invite everyone in. Spaces that allow us to be authentic and honest and where we can further learn about ourselves and our positionality to feel empowered, to feel that we can make real change and to feel that we belong.
Sean Rice
Coordinator of Multicultural Initiatives
To know me, is to recognize my passion for connecting with students, diversity & inclusion,
fostering relationships, and building community. In my role as the Coordinator of
Multicultural Initiatives, my goal is to empower openness, expression, and create
a space where students, faculty, and staff can call home.
I am excited for my SUNY Plattsburgh experience, for where this institution can go and the opportunity to build relationships with all of you!
Thank you and feel free to stop by the H.U.B. where we can begin relationship building.
Jarrin Jeffrey
Graduate Assistant
My work as a graduate assistant in the H.U.B is to assist the director of multicultural
initiatives to carry out the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
I am constantly reminded that student's needs are put first and that their voice has a place at the table in determining decisions that will impact them socially and mentally.
I am also here to support the team and help further the diversity invitees that we put in place for the campus and the center
Title IX
"Professionally and personally I value the importance of honoring the experience of those around me from both a holistic and intersectional perspective. It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to support people through some of the most difficult times of their lives and it is my life’s work to ensure that I do so with integrity, congruency, authenticity, and from a position of understanding and learning. Each day I stand on the foundation that the only true experts of human experience are the individuals themselves living through their experience. The importance of honoring, celebrating, validating, and including people through all the parts of their life and identity is something which is important and I am committed to upholding each and every day. Even if I am standing alone, I will work to not just speak out, but actively participate against inequity, inequality, and fight to actively change systems of power which continue to be structured in ways which push some individuals into the margins. Every person deserves to be seen, heard, valued, and lifted up through both their brightest and darkest times. The work of serving others will never truly be done - but I believe the work must be centered on changing a culture where we work to eliminate systems which support discrimination, harassment, violence, and limit the freedom of some. To that, I am all in every single day."
- Butterfly Blaise, Title IX Coordinator
"As a longtime member of this community, I am committed to seeing it develop into a place where everyone feels they belong. I am dedicated to my role as Title IX and Non-Discrimination Investigator, which holds me accountable to being equitable in my daily practices. Delving down for the truth is a priority for me in both this role and all other aspects of my life. As a white woman who was raised in this area, an area that has lacked diversity in many ways, I feel responsible for acknowledging and confronting my own biases and doing all I can to bring those actions to my life, both on and off campus. This work is not simply a job I perform, but a lifetime commitment that I am making to a more just world. If I am to hold others accountable for their actions and behaviors, I must also embrace being held accountable for my own."
- Autumn Bennett, Title IX and Non-Discrimination Investigator
"What I stand is for the prevention of violence, harassment, and discrimination. The commitment to my work centers around opening up conversations to reduce stigmas by debunking myths, going beyond statistics, and sharing experiences. These conversations then motivate you to not only support victims and survivors but to stand up for them. In order to do that we must flip the pervasive culture of violence that is established so that it no longer exists. Motivated, heard, and supported that is how you will feel leaving the Title IX office. That being said, this work is better when we do it together. Care to join me?"
- Zyaijah Nadler, Violence Prevention Education and Outreach Coordinator Investigator
