Who they are

The RASAs serve as partners and resources to faculty search committees by providing guidance regarding evidence-based practices in recruiting and hiring talented faculty. RASAs serve on committees outside of their department/unit in an effort to provide a neutral perspective and promote best practices in faculty search processes. Their primary role is to provide an equity lens throughout the recruitment and search process.

Training they have received

RASAs are available to serve on faculty and administrator/leadership search committees. Each RASA has undergone a 16-hour training and is certified to serve in this role. The expertise they gained in this extensive training makes them a valuable resource for faculty recruitment and search processes across scholarly fields and disciplines.

We highly encourage each faculty search committee to request the support of a RASA. The preference is to integrate the RASA from the beginning of the search process, preferably before the job posting is written. To request a RASA for your search committee, please fill out this RASA Request Form. The form will ask you to recommend 2-3 RASAs who would make a strong partner in the recruitment and search process for your department/unit. Providing various options will allow us to avoid any conflicts of interest, as well as those related to scheduling.

How to Become a RASA

If you are interested in becoming a RASA, we offer training periodically. Please check back again for future opportunities.

Recruitment and Search Advisors are listed below: 
NameAvailable during
Fall 2023
Available during
Spring 2024
TitleSchool
Alexis Duncan (she/her)Yes Associate ProfessorBrown School
Trish Gomez* (she/her/hers) YesAssociate Director of Education & EngagementOffice of Institutional Equity
Marina P. Gross (she/her/hers) YesStrategic Engagement LeadEducation and Engagement in the Office of Institutional Equity
Jenine Harris (she/her)   YesProfessor/Chief Analytics OfficerBrown School
Sherry Holmes (she/her/hers)  YesYesDirectorStudent Technology Services and Tech Den
John Horn (he/him/his)   YesProfessor of PracticeOlin School of Business
Jonesey Johnson (she/they)   YesProgram Manager for Public HealthBrown School
Jessica Martin (she/her)   YesSenior Associate Dean for Operations & Professor of Practice in CommunicationsOlin School of Business
Melissa Meinzer (she/her)  YesYesExecutive Assistant to the DeanSam Fox School of Art & Design
Diana Parra (she/her/hers)   YesResearch Assistant ProfessorBrown School
Neal Patwari (he/him)YesYesProfessorMcKelvey School of Engineering
Vetta L. Sanders Thompson (she/her/hers) YesProfessor/Associate Dean Equity Diversity & InclusionBrown School

Trained Recruitment and Search Advisors (Unavailable 2023-24):

Maricela Alvarado (she/her/hers), Associate Director of Learning, Skills & Capacity, Office of Institutional Equity*
Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes (she/her) Professor, Brown School*
Stephen Deaderick (he/him) Assistant Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Sam Fox School of Art & Design*
Angela Fink (she/her) Program Manager of the Office of Undergraduate Research, Arts & Sciences*
Tyriesa L. Howard, Assistant Professor, Brown School*
Miguel A. Valerio (he/él/ele/lui/il) Assistant Professor of Spanish, Arts & Sciences*
Jessica Wagenseil (she/her) Professor and Vice Dean for Faculty Advancement, McKelvey School of Engineering*

*Unavailable to serve this academic year, or are already committed to committee service.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about the RASA program, please contact Aurora Kamimura (she/her/ella), Assistant Provost for Inclusive Excellence, at aurorak@wustl.edu.