1/17/2025

Dear Members of the Campus Community,

Please join me in welcoming Mikaila Harris as our new Director for Intercultural Engagement.

Mikaila brings over a decade of experience in facilitated dialogue, racial and social justice, and advocacy in higher education. Her journey began at Central Michigan University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree, sparking her critical analysis of oppressive systems and deepening her commitment to dismantling systemic barriers.  She went on to earn her Master’s in Higher Education from the University of Denver, where she developed inclusive housing practices and led workshops on identity development, cultural appropriation, and Native erasure. During her time with Semester at Sea, Mikaila supported equity and justice in a global context, promoting learning and igniting further curiosity around global social issues.

Now based in the Pacific Northwest, Mikaila continues to advocate for equitable support systems and inclusive learning environments. Her approach to this work is holistic, drawing from personal experiences—from her Michigan roots to navigating academia—with a focus on reflection, gratitude, intentionality, and integrity.  She is incredibly excited to join the University of Puget Sound community and build upon the great work already taking place on campus.

We are very grateful to the search committee, and all of our campus colleagues who joined us on interview panels, and helped us to bring Mikaila to Puget Sound.

Mikaila will have her first day on campus on January 22nd, and we hope that you can join us for her official welcome on February 7 at 4 p.m. in the Murray Boardroom Lounge.

I also would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Shirreka Mackay for stepping in as interim director for Intercultural Engagement during the fall semester. Shirreka, supported our affinity groups, organized cultural events and designed and facilitated DEI professional development opportunities for different constituencies across campus. We will miss her presence on campus and wish her the best in her future professional endeavors.

Sincerely,

Lorna Hernandez Jarvis | VP for Institutional Equity and Diversity