The Equity Advancement Council (EAC) was established in Fall 2023 and serves as a leadership and recommending body to the President's Cabinet. The EAC will work closely with college leaders and liaison with colleagues, stakeholders, and units/programs across the college to help to prioritize and implement CCA's DEIB goals.

The EAC brings together a diverse group of leaders from various areas of the college with a charge to steer the priorities, action planning, and metrics for the success of college-wide integration of DEIB. More specifically, the Council's responsibilities include:

• Adopting Guiding Principles and Strategies: The EAC will articulate guiding principles and develop strategies to drive intentional and impactful practices in our pursuit of equity and inclusion.
  
• Establish Annual Priorities: Informed by CCA’s Strategic Plan, the EAC will establish annual priorities, discuss organizational strategies, and identify the necessary resources to continuously improve DEIB efforts at the program, department, and division levels, with our collective leadership guiding the way.
  
• Recognizing DEIB Excellence: We aim to acknowledge the points of pride and innovation within CCA, which serve as sources for learning and cultural transformation in pedagogy, policy, practices, and processes.
  
• Coordinating Our Vision: In alignment with data and emergent recommendations, the EAC can influence a collective and coordinated vision for CCA, while supporting multiple approaches for local implementation.

Members

• Adriana Lopez Lobovits, Chief of Staff & Equity Partner, President's Office
• ShawnJ West, Director, Graduate Affairs & Community Engagement
• Genevieve Hyacinthe, Associate Professor, History of Art and Visual Culture Program
• Shylah Hamilton, Associate Professor, Critical Ethnic Studies, Program Chair
• Sunny Smith, Dean, Fine Arts Division
• Janeece Hayes, Director, Student Belonging & Inclusion
• Faith E Adiele, Professor, Writing and Literature Program, Program Chair
• Nelson Chan, Assistant Professor, Photography Program
• Matt Silady, Professor, Comics Program, Director of Faculty Development
• Jose de los Reyes, Associate Director of Institutional Research, Academic Affairs
• Marcos Garcia, Assistant Dean of Students for Access & Disability

2025–2026 Overarching Goal

Changing culture toward equity, inclusivity, and progress, and for the future of the college.

This is grounded in a desire to shift institutional culture at CCA by integrating shared equity leadership values and practices into structures, processes, and relationships across the college.

2025-2026 Key Objectives

1. Center Relationships as Equity Practice
2. Empower Faculty & Staff Engagement
3. Map Lived Experiences to Inform Our Priorities
4. Drive Standards for Centering Equity in Institutional
5. Decision-Making
6. Respond to Social and Political Realities