Equity Consultant Team (ECT)
This cohort of faculty and staff are available to help Search Committees keep fairness and equity at the forefront of the hiring process. They are available to help provide guidance on how to create rubrics or draft interview questions. Search Committees are encouraged to work with Equity Consultants for all tenure track and non-tenure track faculty hiring and for director and higher administrative positions.
To contact the Equity Consultant Team, email equityconsultants@siue.edu.
Meet the ECT
Dr. Kimberly Carter
Dr. Carter is Faculty in the Department of Social Work. She joins the ECT having been a member of the inaugural class of IMPACT fellows, serving as one of six Equity Advisors supporting inclusive faculty and staff hiring. Prior to her time as SIUE, she owned and operated a consulting firm dedicated to enhancing culturally responsive staffing and program structures in non-profit health and human service agencies. During her time at SIUE, she has served on a number of ADEI-focused committees and workgroups, including current membership in the College of Arts and Sciences ADEI committee, all aimed at upholding the University’s commitment to being an inclusive campus that supports diversity.
Dr. Chaya Gopalan
Dr. Chaya Gopalanis an experienced Equity Consultant, deeply committed to fostering diverse and inclusive environments. Her global perspective, shaped by her journey as a first-generation college graduate in India and her Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow, informs her effective facilitation of dialogue and initiatives across international networks. Dr. Gopalan’s strong understanding of power dynamics allows her to evaluate biases and build inclusive spaces. She utilizes data-driven analysis to achieve measurable and sustainable progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Derek A. Houston
Dr. Houston is Associate Professor of Educational Administration in the Department of Educational Leadership. He is an equity and liberatory-focused scholar who has practical experiences conducting successful faculty searches that center equitable practices. Dr. Houston joined the ECT to continue helping SIUE and the SIUE community move toward more equitable and inclusive hiring practices.
Dr. Katherine Poole-Jones
Dr. Poole-Jones is Professor of Art History in the Department of Art and Design at SIUE. She joins the ECT having been a member of the inaugural class of IMPACT fellows, serving as one of six Equity Advisors supporting inclusive faculty and staff hiring and as a current member of the College of Arts and Sciences ADEI committee.
