Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Office

Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) is committed to providing leadership, guidance, and resources supporting the institution’s commitment to develop, implement, measure, and transform our culture to build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all.

The DEI office will partner with forward-facing departments to support programs to empower students to become advocates for DEI to help build community acceptance for all now and in the future.

As a transformative global institution, the office will provide measurable outcomes of success in programs, activities, training, and education related to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion to inspire community excellence.

VISION STATEMENT

To overcome barriers as the model community that accepts, respects, and encourages the value, dignity, belonging, and capabilities of all individuals.

MISSION STATEMENT

To champion a community of diversity, equity & inclusion, and belonging in a spirit of civility.

VALUES

CARES graphic with listening and talking icons

CIVILITY

We promote civility in the community as well as empathy and acceptance for all.

ADVOCACY

We advocate for fair and equitable practices and policies that promote and nurture understanding and acceptance.

RESPECT

We respect all individuals’ value of dignity as a foundation for promoting caring, equity, and self-esteem in every community member.

EMPOWERMENT

We empower the underrepresented in the community to be heard and accepted.

SAFETY

We strive to create a safe, inclusive community for all without fear of retaliation or retribution.

Meet the Team

Dr. Alicia B. Harvey-Smith

President and CEO

Dr. Alicia B. Harvey-Smith, has dedicated more than 25 years to higher

Marsha N. Lindsay

Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer

As PTC’s Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Ms. Lindsay is accountable

Lee Cottrell

Faculty – School of Information Systems & Technology, DEI Taskforce Co-Chair

An instructor in PTC’s School of Information Systems and Technology, Lee is

Michael Russell

Faculty – School of Information Systems & Technology, DEI Taskforce Co-Chair

Ordained minister and pastor, educator, lecturer, community advocate, consultant, and Air Force

Jessica Cooper

Faculty – General Education

Jessica followed her passion for communications and English/English Literature to a career

Cheryl Lumsden

Financial Aid Counselor

Cheryl has worked in Financial Aid for PTC since 2006 helping students

Colleen Maxwell

Education - Scheduler

Colleen has been working with data collection and reporting since 2003, joining

Keith Merlino

Associate VP of Student Services

Keith has proudly worked in higher education since 1979 and was hired

Crystal Santiful

Admissions – Outreach/Success Advisor

As PTC’s Outreach Success Advisor, Crystal is focused on the underserved communities

Nancy Starr

Executive Director of Human Resources

Nancy has been working in Human Resources since 1982 and serves as

Shane McGarvey

Assistant Director of Resident Life

Shane is the founder and long-term advisor to the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA),

Awareness Calendar

December 1: World AIDS Day, commemorating those who have died of AIDS, and to acknowledge the need for a continued commitment to all those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

December 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities, designed to raise awareness in regard to persons with disabilities in order to improve their lives and provide them with equal opportunity.

December 8: Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates the solemn celebration, by various Christian denominations, of belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

December 8: Bodhi Day, the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali.

December 10: International Human Rights Day, established by the United Nations in 1948 to commemorate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

December 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a religious holiday in Mexico commemorating the appearance of the Virgin Mary near Mexico City in 1531.

December 13: St. Lucia’s Day, a religious festival of light in Scandinavia and Italy commemorating the martyrdom of St. Lucia, a young Christian girl who was killed for her faith in 304 C.E. She secretly brought food to persecuted Christians in Rome while wearing a wreath of candles on her head so both her hands would be free.

December 16-24: Las Posadas, a nine-day celebration in Mexico commemorating the trials Mary and Joseph endured during their journey to Bethlehem.

December 21: Yule Winter Solstice, celebrated by Pagans and Wiccans. The shortest day of the year represents a celebration focusing on rebirth, renewal and new beginnings as the sun makes its way back to the Earth. A solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice each year when the sun reaches its highest position in the sky.

December 25: Christmas Day, the day that many Christians associate with the birth of Jesus.

December 26: Boxing Day, a secular holiday celebrated in the U.K., Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and South Africa.

December 26-January 1: Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday started by Maulana Karenga in 1966 to celebrate universal African-American heritage.

December 26: Zartosht No-Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathushtra), a day of remembrance in the Zoroastrian religion. It is a commemoration of the death anniversary of the prophet Zoroaster, or Zarathushtra.

December 26: St. Stephen’s Day, a day to commemorate St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, or protomartyr.

December 26: Feast of the Holy Family, a liturgical celebration in the Catholic Church in honor of Jesus, his mother and his foster father, St. Joseph as a family. The primary purpose of this feast is to present the Holy Family as a model for Christian families.

December 27: St. John’s Day, Apostle and Evangelist, feast day for St. John, celebrated by Christian denominations.

December 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents, a Christian feast in remembrance of the massacre of young children in Bethlehem by King Herod the Great in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus.

December 31: Watch Night, a day for Christians to review the year that has passed, make confessions, and then prepare for the year ahead by praying and resolving.

Learn more about these and other diversity holidays →