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The Council for Action and Advocacy United for Social Justice and Equity (CAUSE)

The Council for Action and Advocacy United for Social Justice and Equity (CAUSE) formed in 2016 as the Steinhardt Diversity Council and initially served as the School's advisory committee on diversity, equity, and inclusion matters. The Council was renamed in the fall of 2020 to align with the new office of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging. The Council serves as a space for members to discuss any challenges, share accomplishments, and plan for upcoming changes in higher education. Under the leadership of the inaugural Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Diversity Dr. Charlton Mcllwain and the previous leadership of Dr. Stella Flores, the Council has established a caring community of faculty and staff and has worked to support initiatives such as the Faculty First-Look program, the Steinhardt Scholar-in-Residence, the Diversity Innovation grants, and other initiaitves. The Council will now partner with the Office of Diversity, Equity, Belonging and other community members to advise and support all equity initiatives at the School.

The Council

Alisha Ali

Associate Professor of Applied Psychology

alisha.ali@nyu.edu

Audrey A. Trainor

Professor of Special Education; Content Director, Programs in Special Education

aat8@nyu.edu

Carlos Chirinos-Espin

Assistant Professor, Director of NYU Music and Social Change Lab

carlos.chirinos@nyu.edu

Charlton McIlwain

Vice Provost for Faculty Engagement and Development; Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication

cdm1@nyu.edu

Fabienne Doucet

Executive Director, Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools and Associate Professor of Early Childhood and Urban Education

fd30@nyu.edu

Hua-Yu Sebastian Cherng (程華宇)

Vice Dean for Research and Equity; Associate Professor of International Education

cherng@nyu.edu

Linda Sormin

Associate Professor of Studio Art

linda.sormin@nyu.edu

Janet Njelesani

Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy

janet.njelesani@nyu.edu

Lisa M. Stulberg

Associate Professor of Sociology of Education

lisa.stulberg@nyu.edu

Mara Mills

Associate Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication; PhD Director

mmills@nyu.edu

Maria Williamson

Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging

María Rosa Brea-Spahn

Clinical Associate Professor; Director, Bilingual Extension Track

mrb17@nyu.edu

Michael Funk

Program Director of Higher and Postsecondary Education; Clinical Associate Professor

mike.funk@nyu.edu

Nija Monet Leocadio

Assistant Director, Graduate and Inclusive Engagement and Services

nija.leocadio@nyu.edu

Noel Anderson

Executive Director, Leadership and Innovation and Clinical Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

nsa204@nyu.edu

Offiong Aqua

Clinical Associate Professor

ooa1@nyu.edu

Shondel Nero

Professor of Language Education

shondel.nero@nyu.edu

Usheevii King

Program Director, Center for Faculty Advancement

usheevii.king@nyu.edu

Ying Lu

Associate Professor

ying.lu@nyu.edu