Office of Inclusion
Black, African, and African American Resources and Initiatives
Hello and Welcome to Northern Arizona University!
The creation of the Black Excellence and Student initiatives is an affirming response to the mission statement guiding the Office of Inclusion (IMQ). The goal for Black Excellence and Student Services is to create culturally relevant programs and provide services to advance the holistic support of Northern Arizona University’s Black community. Through intentional partnerships that will work together to increase the recruitment, retention, academic achievement, and self-advocacy of our Black student population we want our Black/African American Students, Staff, and faculty to celebrate their culture. Through our initiatives, the office of Black Excellence and Student Initiatives is here to address the needs of the Black/African American student community and provide support throughout their time at Northern Arizona University.
Purpose
Black Excellence and Student Initiatives is a student-led, student centered, administratively supported initiative through the Office of Inclusion. Our Black Excellence and Student Initiatives serve our Black, African, African-American student population on Northern Arizona University’s campus and offers events open to all of our students, staff, faculty and the surrounding community.
The primary aim is to reflect and to develop understanding of ethnicity and racial identity, intersectionality and to build community within the NAU campus community. The IMQ hosts meetings, events, workshops, and trainings where attendees can share in fellowship and participate in intersectional dialogues around topics such as race within higher education, safety, power, privilege, community, and black excellence within and outside of our campus and Northern Arizona Community. Through Black Excellence, we seek to build community through the shared interest and/or identity of blackness.
BLACK Student Clubs, Organizations, and Greek Life
Visit True Blue Connects for the most up-to-date list of student clubs, organizations, and fraternity/sorority chapters on campus.
African Students Association Accordion Closed
The African Students Association hopes to:
> Protect, defend, and promote the interests of its members
> Promote awareness among ASA members on matters pertaining to socioeconomic and political Issues in Africa
> Portray the image of the African Continent in a correct and positive way
> Create an amicable academic atmosphere for the exchange of knowledge among African students and between African students and students from all over the world
> Promote and preserve African culture.
Learn more about ASA.
BIPOC Medical Professionals Accordion Closed
To learn more about BIPOC Medical Professionals, visit their TBC page.
Black Student Union Accordion Closed
We, the Black Student Union of Northern Arizona University, are an established organization associated with motivating students to stay actively involved on campus, coordinating activities to strengthen cultural awareness, and providing a professionally organized body of students who deal with social, cultural, and educational issues. Our establishment continues to uphold the beliefs and culture of our organization’s founders and is a response to the needs of the Black members of the Northern Arizona Community.
Learn more about the Black Student Union.
Louis Stokes Alliance For Minority Participation (LSAMP) Accordion Closed
The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program is grant funded through the Nation Science Foundation to support under-represented minority students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). We offer priority access to many academic supports such as early enrollment, free weekly tutoring, peer mentoring, outside-class STEM events, professional development, career guidance, graduate school preparation, and paid experiential learning opportunities (i.e. internships and undergraduate research). Join our supportive STEM community at any academic level!
Learn more about LSAMP.
Mixed Student Union Accordion Closed
A safe place to share, learn about, and elevate the perspective of students who are multiracial, multiethnic, transracial adoptee, multicultural, or anybody who identifies as mixed in one way or another. We aim to enhance social consciousness and acceptance of mixed people’s experiences and foster community among mixed individuals. Being mixed is considered by some to be one of the loneliest experiences in America, and we are here to provide support and empathy to our mixed peers. Everyone, no matter how you identify, is welcome and encouraged to participate!
To learn more about Mixed Student Union, please visit their website.
NAU Association of Black Psychology Accordion Closed
NAU Association of Black Psychology is a student chapter of the national organization of the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi). NAU ABPsi exists to create a collaborative, culturally-affirming space for psychologists in training. NAU ABPsi meetings are open for individuals from any racial background and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or sexual orientation. All individuals from the NAU community are welcome to attend events and meetings, keeping in mind that the mission of ABPsi is to “address the serious problems facing Black Psychologists and the larger Black community.”
To learn more about NAU ABPsi, please visit their website.
NAU Queer and Melanted Collective Accordion Closed
Within the welcoming walls of the collective, students find solace in a community that recognizes the unique challenges and experiences faced by those at the intersection of multiple identities. It serves as a hub for queer individuals of various racial and ethnic backgrounds to connect, share their stories, and build meaningful relationships based on mutual understanding and respect.
At the Queer and Melanated Collective, diversity is celebrated as a strength, and all forms of gender expression and sexual orientation are embraced and valued. The collective fosters an atmosphere of inclusivity, ensuring that every member feels seen, heard, and supported. Through open dialogues, educational workshops, and cultural celebrations, students are encouraged to express their authentic selves and learn from one another’s experiences.
This safe space also recognizes the importance of holistic well-being and personal growth. The collective offers resources to address the specific needs and challenges faced by multicultural queer students. It strives to empower individuals to navigate through the intersections of their identities, promoting self-acceptance, resilience, and personal development.
The Queer and Melanated Collective stands as a beacon of hope, providing a sanctuary where individuals can find validation, inspiration, and solidarity. It is a place where multicultural queer students can not only thrive academically but also flourish as confident, proud individuals, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society.
Learn more about the Queer and Melanated Collective.
Faculty, Staff, and Community Support
*Persons listed have agreed to share personal information along with area of expertise or skills.
NAU Faculty Accordion Open
Assistant Professor of Practice, Department of Educational Psychology
Also associated with:
College of Education
Debra Edgerton, MFA (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor, School of Art
Also associated with:
College of Arts and Letters
Assistant Clinical Professor, School of Nursing
Also associated with:
Indigenous Research & Teaching Circle
College of Health and Human Services
Associate Professor, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Also associated with:
Indigenous Research & Teaching Circle
College of Health and Human Services
Chair, College of Education: Teaching and Learning
Associate Professor, College of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning
Also associated with:
College of Education
Chair, Dental Hygiene
Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Dental Hygiene
Also associated with:
College of Health and Human Services
Assistant Professor of Practice
The W. A. Franke College of Business
Lecturer, Department of Ethnic Studies
Also associated with:
Indigenous Research & Teaching Circle
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Professor, Department of Educational Leadership
Also associated with:
College of Education
Part-Time Faculty
Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems Management
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Educational Leadership
Also associated with:
College of Education
Professor, Department of Politics and International Affairs
Also associated with:
Indigenous Research & Teaching Circle
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Assistant Professor of Practice
Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems Management
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology
Part Time Faculty, Center for Health Equity and Research
Also associated with:
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Chair, Global Languages & Cultures
Associate Professor, Department of Global Languages and Cultures
Also associated with:
Spanish
College of Arts and Letters
Professor, Department of Ethnic Studies
Also associated with:
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Professor, School of Art and Design
Also associated with:
Indigenous Research & Teaching Circle
College of Arts and Letters
NAU Staff Accordion Closed
Ashley Martin-Casler (she/her/they/them)
Academic Advisor, Intermediate, University Advising
Health Educator, Intermediate, Campus Health Services
Destinee King (she/her/hers)
Social & Cultural Support Services Coordinator, Senior – SPF, Office of Inclusion: Multicultural and LGBTQIA+ Student Services
Dr. Crystal Lay (she/her/hers)
Director, Campus Operations
Campus Living
Bernadine Lewis (she/her/hers)
Program Director
Center for Inclusive Excellence
Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources
Also associated with:
Human Resources Administration
Dr. Justin Mallett (he/him/his)
Vice President
Center for Inclusive Excellence
Assistant Director, Academic Programs, Institute for Human Development (IHD)
Also associated with:
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Director, Institutional Equity Compliance & Title IX Coordinator
Equity and Access Office
Also associated with:
Office of Legal Affairs & General Counsel
Tommy Newsom II (he/him/his)
Assistant Director, Campus Operations
Campus Living
Also associated with:
Campus Living Initiatives
Dr. Martin L. Tease (he/him/his)
Program Manager, Student Affairs
Kiara Weathersby-Nicas (she/her/hers)
Director, Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures (CNAIF)
Office of Native American and Indigenous Advancement (ONAIA)
Also associated with:
Student Affairs Mentoring Student Affairs Mentoring
Program Design | Coach | Mentor Training | Curriculum Design | Commission on Commissions
Community Resources Accordion Closed
African Diaspora Advisory Council
The Coconino County African Diaspora Advisory Council (ADAC) was established in 2001 by the Board of Supervisors. The Council was created to provide an official liaison and communication link between the African American community and Coconino County. Prior to 2020, the Council was known as the African American Advisory Council.
ADAC Members:
- Khara House – Chair
- Deborah Harris
- Kengatta Callen
- Diamond Bracey
Councilmember
Flagstaff City Council
Khara also volunteers and serves with various local and national groups such as the NAACP, the NAA Diversity and Inclusion Committee, NAA NextGen, Coconino County African American Advisory Council, Flagstaff Housing Commission, and the Executive Board of NAMI Flagstaff.
Deborah A. Harris, M.Ed.
NAU Associate Dean of Students, Retired, 2017
President, Southside Community Association (Operating the Historic Murdoch Community Center)
The Lived Black Experience (LBE) CommUnity Dialogues began in 6/20 as a response to the murder of George Floyd as a way create a space in our commUnity for civil dialogue to discuss the systemic, root causes of racism and how we can counteract it.
National Advancement for the Association of Colored People (NAACP)
NAACP Flagstaff Branch
PO Box 31263, Flagstaff, AZ 86003
Rev. Cemie Clayton, Branch President
Jabarha “Kuttz” Nichols
2219 E 7th Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
First Missionary Baptist Church
219 S Elden St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Harbert Chapel, AME
424 S San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Riverside Church of God In Christ
419 S Verde St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Church
624 S O’Leary St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001