Office of the Provost
Faculty Excellence & Academic Culture

University Culture & Community Council

At Drexel University, we strive to cultivate and maintain a supportive, accepting culture where students, faculty, and professional staff of all backgrounds:

  • are valued and celebrated for their unique perspectives, experiences, approaches, and styles
  • experience our systems (policies, procedures, practices, ways of interacting) as fair and just
  • enjoy a sense of connection and community with others
  • feel empowered to remain true to and advocate for themselves
  • can find role models, mentors, sponsors, and allies
  • are provided every opportunity to thrive and succeed

The University Culture & Community Council works in partnership with the Vice Provost for Faculty Excellence & Academic Culture toward achieving these goals.  Council members provide visionary leadership and strategic direction within their respective units, collaborating with unit leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders (e.g., alumni, community partners) to develop, implement, and assess the impact of initiatives pertaining to academic culture and community.


Council Members

  • Francis Aguas, MFA, Associate Dean of Community & Global Initiatives, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
  • Trina Andras, PhD, Assistant Dean for Societal Impact, LeBow College of Business
  • Danielle Boardley, Assistant Dean of Student Life, Kline School of Law
  • Paul Brandt-Rauf, MD, ScD, DrPH, Dean, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
  • Veronica Carey, PhD, Assistant Dean for Culture, Climate & Belonging, College of Nursing and Health Professions
  • Steve Dolph, PhD, Associate Dean for Culture & Community, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Brian Ellis, PhD, Associate Dean for Academic Programs Administration, LeBow
  • Marie Fazio, Assistant Dean, Operations & Strategic Initiatives; Culture and Community Officer; College of Computing & Informatics
  • Annette Gadegbeku, MD, Senior Associate Dean, Office of Community Health and Inclusive Excellence, College of Medicine (CoM)
  • Rita Guevara, MD, Assistant Dean of Inclusive Excellence, CoM
  • Terrance Harris, Director of Culture & Community Engagement, College of Engineering
  • Shardé Johnson, Executive Director, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging; Director, Center for Black Culture, Division of Student Success
  • Tsz Kwok, EdD, Director of Academic Administration and International Student Engagement, Office of Graduate Studies
  • Leon McCrea, MD, MPH, Vice Dean for Educational Affairs, CoM
  • Bernetta McCall-Millonde, Executive Director, Center for Inclusive Education and Scholarship, Office of the Provost
  • Jaya Mohan, Director, Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs, Pennoni Honors College
  • Reneé Moore, PhD, Associate Dean for Culture, Community & Opportunity, Dornsife School of Public Health
  • Marisol Rodriguez-Mergenthal, MBA, Director of STEM Success Services, Division of Student Success
  • Tainesha Ware, Program Coordinator, Drexel University Libraries
  • Christopher Wright, Associate Dean, Culture and Community, School of Education