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TuTangeni DaSheek Akwenye, new chief inclusion diversity officer at UVU, pictured on Wednesday April 10, 2019.

August Miller, UVU Marketing

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Rasha Qudisat, the new program director at UVU’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity, pictured on Monday Nov. 26, 2018.

August Miller, UVU Marketing

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Utah Valley University has named TuTangeni DaSheek Akwenye as chief inclusion diversity officer and Rasha Qudisat as program director at UVU’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity, following a nationwide search to fill the two positions.

“At UVU, we have built a nationally recognized Inclusion and Diversity Plan and look forward to DaSheek and Rasha making it even more effective,” said UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez said in a press release. “It is critical to have strong, committed, insightful leaders in these positions who will help all students feel welcome, use resources effectively, and create an environment where all can thrive.”

Akwenye will oversee the Inclusion Committee at UVU and sit on all executive committees. Additionally, he will be responsible for leading and promoting diversity, equity, access and equal opportunity at the university.

“I’m just grateful and excited to be appointed to this new position and just to be able to lead off the inclusion work at UVU. I’m just thankful for our administrators, President Tuminez, VP of People and Culture Marilyn Meyer who had the full confidence in me to be able to lead off inclusion initiatives on campus,” Akwenye said. “The goal as I get into this new position is to build bridges and relationships with all constituencies on campus, and make it a more meaningful experience for all our faculty staff and students to be able to feel a sense of belonging at our institution.”

Akwenye previously served as the director and senior director of Campus Recreation and Wellness. Akwenye is a UVU alumnus, having participated as an international student-athlete during his time at the school. He graduated from Utah State University with a Master of Science in Exercise Science.

“In 2019, Akwene received the Champion of Inclusion Award for his commitment to inclusion and diversity at UVU,” read a press release distributed by UVU. “He has provided meaningful and substantive inclusion advocacy work and has served on many committees, including the Executive Inclusion, African Diaspora Executive, First Generation Mentor, and Police Academy Bias Education Training Committees. He was also invited to be UVU’s first Juneteenth speaker.”

Qudisat has served as a consultant to UVU on previous business management, engaged learning, and National Science Foundation-funded projects. Having earned her Ph.D. from Brigham Young University in Education, Inquiry, Measurement, and Evaluation, Qudisat specializes in assessment research.

She also previously worked at UVU as the Director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works according to her LinkedIn page.

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