Office of Campus Community Relations

Initiated in 2000, the Student Affairs Task Force on Campus Community provided recommendations to formalize practices and procedures that would enhance support of campus diversity and the UC Davis Principles of Community. The objectives of the task force were:

• To identify programmatic elements and issues addressing and promoting diversity;
• To develop program presentations on a variety of diversity-related topics;
• To develop a train-the-trainers program by recruiting a cadre of individuals who will serve as diversity trainers/educators to develop and facilitate a variety of  diversity-related workshops upon request from campus units/departments and groups;
• To recommend other approaches in institutionalizing diversity education as part of staff development opportunities.

From this effort, the Diversity Trainers Institute was created, which consists of UC Davis staff members who develop training modules/course curricula and serve as diversity trainers/educators for the campus, while serving as instructors of the various diversity-related courses offered through the UC Davis Staff Development and Professional Services.  Members of the Diversity Trainers Institute serve on a voluntary basis.

Members of the Diversity Trainers Institute

Mikael Villalobos, M.A. is the Administrator of Diversity Education with the Office of Campus Community Relations in the Offices of the Chancellor and Provost. Prior to joining the Offices of the Chancellor and Provost in 2008, he served as a Regional Outreach Coordinator, Assistant Director and Educational Partnership Manager with the Early Academic Outreach Program, an academic preparation program within the Division of Student Affairs. Mikael has been active in social justice work and diversity education for more than ten years.  He is also a senior member of the campus’s Diversity Trainers Institute, a team of UC Davis trainers who develop, teach and facilitate workshops and courses to students, staff and faculty on issues related to social justice and diversity education.  A UC Davis alumnus, Mikael has been with the University for 15 years.  He also has a consulting practice in diversity education, conflict mediation and organizational development.

Binnie Singh, M.A., is the Director of Faculty Relations and Development in Academic Personnel, Offices of the Chancellor and Provost. She manages grievances and complaints that involve academic employees, coordinates and delivers development/training programs for faculty, works with departments and deans offices on faculty medical leaves and issues related to accommodations, and administers the Work Life Program for academics. Binnie has chaired the Campus’ Training and Development Advisory Committee, serves as a campus mediator, as a member of the campus’ Violence Prevention Team, as a member of the Sexual Harassment Case Management Team, and as a member of the Diversity Trainers Institute on campus. Before coming to UC Davis, Binnie served as the Human Resources Director for the San Francisco Fire Department and has over 19 years of experience in human resources, including: organizational development, equal employment opportunity, recruitment and retention, personnel selection, labor relations and training/development. Binnie has a master's degree in organizational psychology.

Steven Baissa is the Director of the UC Davis Cross-Cultural Center within the division of Student Affairs and a lecturer in the School of Education.  Steven is a founding member of the UC Davis Train the Trainers Diversity Institute where he provides training on diversity education, cultural competency and organizational development.  He has been doing work related to social justice, inclusion, and student life for the past 17 years at UC Davis and 3 other schools in the Mid West and East Coast.  A first generation immigrant from Ethiopia, Steven is a father of two beautiful children and a passionate advocate of Social Justice.  He also has a private consulting practice in diversity education, organizational development and cultural competency.

Catrina Wagner, M.Ed., has worked at UC Davis since 1995 and is currently an Assistant Director in Student Housing. Catrina regularly co-instructs with faculty a Freshmen Seminar entitled, "Navigating the Research University," which helps new students to discover the complexities and opportunities of attending a research institution. Catrina has been a member of the Office of Campus Community Relations Diversity Trainers Institute since 2001, where she develops and facilitates workshops and training programs on issues related to social justice and diversity education for faculty, staff, students and community members. Catrina also serves as the Coordinator and Trainer for the LGBTI Speaker's Bureau of the Chancellor's Advisory Committee, a volunteer organization whose primary goal is to educate and impact others' understanding of LGBTI issues through the sharing of personal stories. Catrina received her B.A. in Psychology from California Lutheran University and her Master of Education in College Student Personnel from Ohio University and is a private consultant in diversity education and organizational development.

Sheri Atkinson is the Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center at the University of California, Davis.  She has been in her position for 5 years and worked in Student Affairs for over 10 years beginning with her graduate work at the Ohio State University, where she earned a Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs.  Sheri has done many presentations on a wide range of diversity and social justice related issues.

Moira Delgado is the Education Specialist with the UC Davis Sexual Harassment Education Program. Previously, she worked at King Hall, UC Davis School of Law, managing outreach programs for undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds.  Moira has been a member of the UC Davis Train the Trainers Diversity Institute since 2003, developing and teaching courses and facilitating workshops on social justice and diversity education.

Harold Stewart-Carballo is the Academic Enrichment Coordinator with the UC Davis Department of Academic Preparation Programs.   Harold came to UC Davis from the Peninsula Community Foundation in San Mateo, CA where he worked as a program manager with the foundation’s county-wide Partnership for Children, Youth and Families.   Harold has spent the last 15+ years working as an advocate for access and equity in K-12 and Higher Education.  He is also the founding director of a community based non-profit dedicated to preparing families and students for the rigors of academia.  To date, he continues to be active in social justice work as a board member of the local Sacramento Valley Organizing Community.  Harold is also an active member of the UC Davis campus’s Diversity Trainers Institute, a team of volunteer trainers who develop, teach and facilitate workshops and courses to students, staff and faculty on issues related to social justice and diversity education. 

Vickie Gomez, M. A., is the Diversity Program Coordinator and the Early Resolution Discrimination Coordinator with the Office of Campus Community Relations in the Offices of the Chancellor and Provost.  Previous experience includes, 5 years as Academic Counselor in the College of Letters and Science Deans Office.  Prior to joining UC Davis, she worked for 13 years at San Jose State University as Assistant Director/Counseling Coordinator of Student Support Services, a Trio program.   She has been a member of the UC Davis Diversity Trainers Institute since 2006, a team of UC Davis trainers who develop, teach and facilitate workshops and courses for students, staff and faculty on issues related to social justice and diversity education.   Vickie has a Master’s Degree in Counseling Education and, she also holds a Community College Teaching Credential in Psychology and has taught at Evergreen Community College in San Jose.