Associate Professor of Biology at Central College Paulina Mena has been appointed as Faculty Fellow for Diversity and Inclusion at Central.

Mena will work with faculty, along with Brian Peterson, associate dean of students, and Mary Strey, vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty, to support faculty development, curriculum and the classroom climate as it relates to diversity and inclusion for course development and pedagogy. Her appointment began August 2021.

“I am elated to be appointed to this position because I truly believe diversity makes us all better people,” Mena says. “I look forward to working with colleagues and students to ensure that we better serve our underrepresented students. I hope to help us move forward in implementing inclusive pedagogies and curricula as part of a campus-wide effort to create equitable opportunities for our students to succeed.”

Mena’s service and leadership to the college include her appointment by the Central Board of Trustees as a faculty trustee and her election to the faculty planning and policy committees, where she was elected to serve as chair for both. She