Contact
The Engaged Pluralism office is located in 223 Main Building.
Kimberly Williams Brown,Director of Engaged Pluralism
Hi! My name is Kim Williams Brown (she/her). I am in my eighth year at Vassar College. I am an associate professor in Education and also teach in the programs of Africana Studies, Women, feminist and Queer Studies, American Studies and Forced Migration. I am excited to serve as director of Engaged Pluralism because I believe in creating spaces that allow students, staff, administrators and faculty to dialogue across their differences, tell stories that humanize them and learn to build coalitions that create deeply connected communities. I am looking forward to working with all of you to realize engaged pluralism through restorative practices, inclusive pedagogies, Intergroup Dialogue and story telling. A fun fact about me is that I am the House Fellow in Raymond House! Go Rat Kings!
Selena Hughes,Engaged Pluralism Program Administrator
Hi! My name is Selena (she, her, hers), and in 2023 I joined the Engaged Pluralism Team as the Program Administrator. Prior to coming to Vassar, I was an educator from 2013–2023. There I cultivated a passion for creating culturally sustaining classrooms and spaces in Dutchess County, Honduras, and Kansas City. In my spare time, I read sci-fi and fantasy novels, write stories, and LARP.
Interns
Becca Rodriguez ’26
I am a junior from Santa Barbara, California who plays on the women’s soccer team here. My favorite color is indigo and my favorite TV show of all time is Star Wars the Clones Wars.
Aryon Turner ’28
I am a first-year student from Texas interested in studying Biochemistry and Political Science! I like to watch movies and TV shows in my free time, with some personal favorites being Harry Potter and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Tianyu Xiong ’25
I’m a senior Economics and History double major, but I spend most of my time with music in Skinner with the orchestra and the student-run Camerata ensemble!.
Emeritae/i
Previous Interns
Azure Malley-Porter ’25
Manoshi Hassan ’25
Tianyu Xiong ’25
Elle Mason ’26
Engaged Pluralism Coordinating Committee
Colin Aitken
Kim Williams-Brown
Debra Bucher
Alexia Ferracuti
Peter Gil-Sheridan
Luis Inoa
Amy Laughlin
Amanda Munroe
Becca Rodriguez
Elizabeth Salmon
Emma Santiago
Kerry Stamp
Catherine Tan
Aryon Turner
Pambanisha Whaley
Tracy Wright-Mauer
Tianyu Xiong
EP Collaborative Team
Alexia Ferracuti (she/her), Director of Inclusive Pedagogy
Hi everyone! I’m Alexia Ferracuti (she/her/hers), the new Director of Inclusive Pedagogy at Vassar. In my role, I put together programming and resources related to inclusive teaching and learning, and also offer confidential one-on-one consultations to support anyone who is currently teaching. I also help collaboratively oversee the collective activities of Engaged Pluralism, and help direct the Student Teacher Engaged Pedagogical Partnership (STEPP) program. A fun fact about me is that I grew up speaking Italian and also have a PhD in Italian literature and theatre, focusing on gender and comedy in the Renaissance. Please reach out (aferracuti@vassar.edu) if you’d like to discuss anything related to teaching at Vassar, or have an idea for something we might be able to collaborate on together related to inclusive pedagogy!
Amanda Munroe (she/they), Director of Restorative Practices for Engaged Pluralism
Warm fall greetings, everyone! Amanda Munroe here, she/they, on campus since late July. In my role as Director of Restorative Practices, I work to promote engaged pluralism by empowering the Vassar community to constructively navigate differences and respond to harm in restorative ways. I facilitate restorative practices like circle practice, affinity spaces, restorative conferences, consensus-based decision-making, nonviolent communication, de-escalation, active listening, and more. I also train and support people in how to practice these strategies themselves. As a private resource on campus, I offer consultations for anyone who wants to talk about a challenging situation. A fun fact about me is that I love to sing and am looking for a choir to join! If you’d like to collaborate, learn more about restorative practices, or invite me to your choir (or anything else), please drop me a line at amunroe@vassar.edu or drop by my office on the third floor of the College Center across from WVKR.
Fresia Martinez Olivera (she/they), Associate Director of Organizational Development and Employee Equity at Vassar
In this role, Fresia is excited to manage projects and initiatives aimed at nurturing a culture of inclusion and belonging, with a specific focus on the employee community and their experience. This includes developing trainings that promote inclusivity, participating on the Engaged Pluralism Team, and designing programs and procedures that increase transparency and equity. A fun fact about Fresia is that they hold degrees in creative writing and English education, and are passionate about using stories as an avenue to reflect on and explore humanity, societies, and cultures. As someone who believes community, values, and relationship building are at the heart of this work, Fresia is looking forward to meeting everyone around campus. Please feel free to reach out to them at fmartinezolivera@vassar.edu to introduce yourself, discuss ideas related to employee equity, or any collaborative opportunities!