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.
| Name | Pronouns | Title | School/Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Bernhardt | He/Him | Student Affairs Specialist | Olin School of Business |
| Anthony Scales | He/him/his | Academic and Student Affairs Advisor | Olin School of Business |
| Briana Lawson | She/Her | Staff Development & Engagement Specialist | Other |
| Dan Ferris | he/him | Assistant Professor of Practice; Associate Director of Training and Education Innovation | Brown School |
| Diana Parra | she, her, hers | Associate Professor | Brown School |
| Erika Naes | she/her/hers | MBA Academic Advisor | Olin School of Business |
| Jacqueline Carter | She/Her | Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Program Manager | Olin School of Business |
| James Zerkel | he/him | Administrative Assistant III | Office of Institutional Equity |
| Jenine Harris | she her | Professor & Chief Analytics Officer | Brown School |
| Jennifer Finney | She / Her | Associate Director, Technology, Data, & Engineering Career Community | Center for Career Engagement |
| Jonesey Johnson | she/they | Program Manager for Public Health | Brown School |
| Kim Webb | She/Her/Hers | Director, Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center | Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center |
| Kristen Ford | she/her | Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis | Olin School of Business |
| Marcia Ford | she/her | Professor of Practice, Director Part-Time MSW Program | Brown School |
| Marina P. Gross | she/her/her | Senior Education & Engagement Lead | Office of Institutional Equity |
| Melissa Meinzer | she/her | Executive Assistant to the Dean | Sam Fox School of Art & Design |
| Omar AlRefae | prefer not to list. | Senior Director – Enterprise Applications | WashU IT |
| Rebeca Cunill | she / her | Senior Lecturer in Spanish | Arts & Sciences |
| Saint Rice Jr | He, Him, His | Assistant Dean of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Director of Faculty, Staff, and Community Engagement | Olin School of Business |
| Shar C. Smith | she/her | Manager of Staff Development & Engagement | University Advancement |
| Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes | she/her/hers | Professor, Dean’s Distinguished Professorial Scholar | Brown School |
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.