The University of Arizona

Equity in the Arts

Contact

Administrative office of Equity in the Arts, Arizona Arts

Amelia “Amy” Kraehe, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President, Equity in the Arts
Office of the Dean, College of Fine Arts
Professor, School of Art
(she/her/hers)

Sama Alshaibi

Director, Racial Justice Studio
Regents Professor
Professor, School of Art
(she/her/hers)

Jenny Stern

Multimedia Specialist, Equity in the Arts
Production Coordinator, Racial Justice Studio
Staff Council Member
(she/they/theirs)

Bias and Crisis Support

Bias Education and Support Team (BEST)

University of Arizona’s Bias Education and Support Team (BEST) is a resource for all members of the University community who believe they have experienced, observed, or been made aware of a bias-related incident that would not constitute a violation of the Nondiscrimination and Anti-harassment Policy, but for which they would like to seek support and/or facilitate educational opportunities for themselves or others.

Office of Institutional Equity (OIE)

University of Arizona’s Office of Institutional Equity is committed to supporting a campus culture where all members of our community have equitable access to academic and professional opportunities and are supported in their individual and collective pursuits and efforts. All members of the University community are welcome to reach out to the Office of Institutional Equity if they have a concern, need assistance or support, or would like to provide a referral or a report of discriminatory conduct.

Additional Resources

Counseling and Psych Services (at Campus Health)
On-campus confidential reporting and counseling options
Campus Health Counseling & Psych Services
(520) 621-3334

Survivor Advocacy
Provides confidential support and advocacy services to student survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Campus Health Survivor Advocacy

Dean of Students
Title IX, Policies, Reporting & Resources

Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) Initiatives

Mission

Arizona Arts serves as a gateway to the visual and performing arts assets, experiences, and educational programs on the University of Arizona campus.

It brings together the highly regarded academic programs in the College of Fine Arts — the schools of dance; art; music; and theatre, film & television — and the University’s world-class arts presenting and engagement units, including Arizona Arts Live, the Center for Creative Photography, and the University of Arizona Museum of Art.

We are dedicated to educating, connecting, and inspiring every member of the Wildcat community and all visitors to the University of Arizona campus.

The office of Equity in the Arts’ mission fosters inclusive communities, equitable experiences, and diverse perspectives as cornerstones of creativity, artistic expression, and cultural production.

Vision

We seek to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in the arts and arts education regionally and globally by:

Transforming our curricula and cultivating inclusive learning experiences inside and outside the classroom;
Promoting diverse programming that represents the work of artists and content that are reflective of a wide variety of perspectives, identities, and aesthetic repertoires;
Connecting with local, national, and international communities; and
Creating safe spaces for racial and social justice in the arts sector.

Diversity & Inclusion Committee

Arizona Arts’ Diversity & Inclusion Committee comprises students, faculty, and staff from the College of Fine Arts and visual and performing arts engagement units.

The committee’s charge is as follows:

Framing – Define and disseminate definitions of equity, diversity, and inclusion for the Division.
Communicating – Develop an EDI statement that will frame the work for all units.
Assessing – Collect, analyze, and synthesize the current EDI efforts, challenges, and goals that each unit has for use in the creation of an Arizona Arts EDI Roadmap.
Understanding – Identify internal learning/training needs around EDI and organizational change.
Planning – Finalize the EDI Roadmap and support implementation.

Diversity & Inclusion Committee Members

Willa Ahlschwede

Assistant Curator of Education & Public Programs
University of Arizona Museum of Art
(she/her/hers)

“I see my role as a bridge between campus and the wider community. We have a responsibility to recognize barriers to diversity and inclusion in our disciplines and institutions, and to continuously build a more equitable and accessible culture and organization.”

Philip Alejo

Associate Professor of Music; Associate Director of Equity and Inclusion
School of Music
(he/him)

“It is an honor to work collaboratively with peers from across Arizona Arts for the betterment of our Schools and programs.”

Gia Del Pino

Marketing Specialist
Center for Creative Photography
(she/her/hers)

Sandra Garcia

Assistant Manager, Ticket Office
Arizona Arts Live
(she/her)

“I am excited to be part of the AADI Committee to be able to be help ensure that everyone’s voices and perspectives are heard.”

Kelsey Nussbaum

Assistant Professor, Music Education
School of Music
(she/her)

“I enjoy working in partnership with my colleagues to (re)imagine and build a community that is more equitable and accessible for students, faculty, and staff in the CFA.”

Logan Moon Penisten

House Manager & Artist Relations Coordinator
Arizona Arts Live
(he/him/his)

“I’m excited to join the AADI committee because embracing diverse perspectives enriches creativity and fosters a more inclusive environment for all artists and audiences.”

Kimberly Mast, Ph.D.

Director, Visual Resource Center
School of Art

“My role is to help faculty and staff learn ways to encourage and implement diversity in their classrooms and across the fine arts campus.”

David Morden

Associate Professor
School of Theatre, Film and Television
(he/him/his)

“As a gay man, I have always been aware of the importance of visibility. I want to ensure that every student in our college sees themselves in the work and the art that we create.”

Jennifer Saracino

Assistant Professor, Art History
School of Art
(she/her)

“I’m really excited to collaborate with peers and students to help build a more inclusive environment that inspires and fosters creativity, community, and success!”

Sara Swayden

Archivist
University of Arizona Museum of Art
(she/her/hers)

“To foster academic scholarship through research and lifelong learning. Provide access and discovery of the AVA collections for students, faculty and staff of the University of Arizona and the public at large.”

Charlie Synder

Director of Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
Arizona Arts, College of Fine Arts
(he/him/his)

“Support equity messaging, events and programs, while representing and celebrating of a diverse group of students, faculty and alumni on Arizona Arts platforms.“

Emily Weirich

Public Services Manager
Center for Creative Photography
(she/her/hers)

Trent D. Williams, Jr.

Associate Professor of Dance
School of Dance
(he/him/his)

“I am a performer, choreographer and educator who creates work that speaks directly to the social inequalities impacting our changing world. Serving on the AADI Committee will help change to make Arizona Arts a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable community within faculty, staff, and students.”

Get Involved

For more information on the committee and how to get involved, email uart-equity@arizona.edu.