Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
vpdiversity@MiamiOH.edu
Cristina Alcalde is Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. She also holds an appointment as professor of global and intercultural studies. In her role as vice president, she provides strategic vision and leadership for a holistic, coordinated approach to inclusive excellence for faculty, staff, and students. Prior to joining Miami, she served as Associate Dean of Inclusion and Internationalization in the College of Arts and Sciences and Marie Rich Endowed Professor in Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Kentucky, where she also designed and directed the Online Graduate Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion. As a scholar-practitioner, she has published widely and speaks nationally and internationally on inclusion, race and racialization, gender violence, migration, exclusion, belonging, and leadership. In addition to journal articles and chapters, her books include Dismantling Institutional Whiteness: Emerging Forms of Leadership in Higher Education (2022); #MeToo and Beyond: Perspectives on a Global Movement (2022); Familia, exclusión y racismo de la peruanidad: la tía Eliana (2022); Peruvian Lives across Borders: Power, Exclusion, and Home (2018); Provocations: A Transnational Reader in the History of Feminist Thought (2015); La mujer en la violencia (2014); and The Woman in the Violence: Gender, Poverty, and Resistance in Peru (2010). Recent shorter pieces on women in leadership positions, re-envisioning leadership in higher ed, and women of color and burnout have appeared in Inside Higher Ed and Ms. Magazine. She is co-editor of the Navigating Careers in Higher Ed Book Series and Editorial Board Member of the Political and Legal Anthropology Review. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and their two cats.
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives
ramireh2@MiamiOH.edu
As the Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives, Hiram Ramirez, is focused on collaborating with campus members to strategic initiatives geared at building capacity and culture change. Over the course of his career, Hiram has served as an integral member of each campus community - ranging from large public institutions, historical women’s colleges, Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI’s), to private liberal arts colleges - with a creative and enthusiastic spirit. Hiram is passionate about social justice work and engaging campus stakeholders in moving the needle around systemic change. His passion for improving campus climate and building networks began in his early days as a student leader advancing civic engagement at his alma mater. As a scholar, Hiram’s research focuses on Latino men, machismo, masculinity, academic success, queer theory, LatCrit theory, and other intersecting topics in American higher education. When Hiram is not supporting inclusive excellence efforts, he is trying to keep up with his four cats with his husband and reading the latest fantasy book.
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Director, Programming
howardt9@miamioh.edu
Tekeia N. K. Howard is the Director for Programming for the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence. She has over 20 years of experience in primary and secondary education; and in higher education serving in residence life, identity centers, service learning, community building, and teaching.
Tekeia leverages her experience and background to drive program development, cultural transformation and inclusive education in her work. As the Director for Programming she develops and facilitates workshops, training and events to advance strategic goals. Tekeia also brings the Miami community together to celebrate culture, heritages and community. She is passionate about creating pathways to achieve equity and access for all through innovation education.
She balances her life between family and serving in the communities, where she lives, works and plays.
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Communications and Events Coordinator
proescag@miamioh.edu
As the Communications and Events Coordinator for the Office of Transformational Excellence and Inclusion, Abbie Proeschel helps drive a holistic communications strategy to keep the university community informed of and engaged in inclusive excellence initiatives and events. Abbie received her Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies from Indiana University East in 2019, and then went on to complete her Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Composition at Ball State, graduating in 2021. Abbie is passionate about social justice work and furthering systemic change for the betterment of the campus community. As a scholar, Abbie’s research focuses on exclusion, belonging, and accessibility within higher education spaces. When she is not working, Abbie enjoys hiking through the National Parks with her husband and reading the latest novel that has caught her interest.
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Administrative Assistant
dykesch@miamioh.edu
Carolyn Dykes has most recently joined the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. Carolyn has over 25 years experience as a leader in Financial Services and Mortgage Banking managing various teams. In her current role, Carolyn enjoys putting her organizational and time management skills to work. When she is not working, Carolyn enjoys spending time with her family, DIY projects, and baking.
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Graduate Assistant
otie@MiamiOH.edu
Braelyn is pursuing her Master's degree in Sports Leadership and Management with a certificate in Sport Psychology at Miami. Braelyn received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Miami in 2020. Since that time, Braelyn has worked as a mental health tech for Kettering Hospital. Giving back to her sport, Braelyn has enjoyed coaching youth and high school basketball for the AAU program Dayton Lady Hoopstars for 4 years. In her free time, Braelyn enjoys playing sports and spending time with family, friends, and her animals.
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers, Ella
Graduate Assistant
Josselyn is a third-year graduate student at Miami University in the Brain, Cognitive, and Developmental Psychology Ph.D. program specializing in medical decision-making with people who learned English as a second language. She got her bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Fullerton, in 2021 and her master’s degree from Miami University in 2023. Josselyn also serves as a Graduate Staff for the Rinella Learning Center by supporting the tutoring and Supplemental Instruction programs at Miami. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and cooking new recipes.
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
otie@miamioh.edu
Anna is a fourth-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Administration, as well as two minors in German and Classical Studies. She is passionate about equity and social justice, and has previously worked with the Miami Panhellenic community as well as on the student DEI council to help foster a more inclusive campus. This summer, she conducted an independent study on health equity and infrastructure in the United States and Germany. In her free time, Anna enjoys hiking around Miami’s various trails, cooking and baking with friends, and studying the Korean language.
Pronouns: She, Her,Hers
Marcella-Alysia is a first-generation, senior undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Psychology with an area of focus in social psychology, as well as a minor in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies. She also serves as the current Public Relations and Social Chair for Miami’s largest Latinx organization on campus, the Latiné Student Alliance (LSA), where she helps promote a safe and inclusive environment for all Latinx and Hispanic students. Additionally, Marcella is currently serving as an undergraduate research assistant for two psychology labs on campus, the MARSH lab and the BISQue lab, where she conducts social and clinical research, respectively. She is currently working on her honors thesis and her first publication and will be applying to Ph.D. programs in the fall.
Our mission is to empower each student, staff, and faculty member to promote and become engaged citizens who use their acquired knowledge and skills with integrity and compassion to improve the future of the community and the world.
