In this Recognition section, we’d like to acknowledge the work of two extraordinary individuals at UCF. Both Dr. Edwanna Andrews, Interim Assistant Vice President for Community Support Services, and Dr. Jennifer Sandoval, Associate Professor, have been leaders of change by promoting efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion among faculty and staff members, and students here at UCF. They have both shown a great passion for engaging and empowering others to promote a culture of respect and inclusivity in our community. You can find more about their work in the paragraphs below. We thank you both for your dedication and commitment to making UCF a model for inclusive excellence.
Dr. Edwanna Andrews has worked in higher education for over 18 years and has served in a variety of roles within student affairs. Her career has included developing student leaders, establishing a department, creating programs, providing platforms to decrease barriers, and being an advocate for all students. Dr. Andrews works with students, faculty and staff members to create purposeful action that leads to an accessible and inclusive UCF campus environment. In 2014, she was appointed Director of Social Justice and Advocacy and was tasked with establishing a brand-new department to address the equity needs of the students and the campus community. It was her responsibility to build a team of staff and student leaders dedicated to advancing the definition of social justice by operationalizing the vision of creating purposeful action. In just two short years under her leadership, the institution was ranked among the top 50 LGBTQ+ friendly campuses across the country and has been consistently recognized as the highest premier ranked LGBTQ+ friendly university in Florida. Additional accomplishments under her leadership as Director of Social Justice and Advocacy include developing key partnerships and dialogues with the university police department, collaborating with faculty to develop a digital storytelling initiative – I Am UCF, and facilitating monthly social justice and interfaith dialogues. She also serves as the UCF representative for the City of Orlando MLK Commission.
Dr. Jennifer Sandoval is an Associate Professor in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media and the Faculty Fellow for Inclusive Excellence. Her research is centered on the importance and impact of difference (e.g., identity, race, gender) on communication in complex contexts (e.g. sexual and reproductive healthcare, conflict, higher education). She is engaged in a variety of work to make UCF a more humane and equitable working and learning environment, including frequent presentations across campus and in the community about inclusive language principles and inclusive teaching practices. She has worked with a number of committees and groups at UCF to help apply an equity lens to their research, writing, or campaigns, including many Hispanic Serving Initiatives. Dr. Sandoval has most recently been leading an effort to construct resources, processes, and an equity advocate program to enhance equitable and inclusive faculty hiring.
If you see someone doing the right thing, write to us at complianceandethics@ucf.edu and tell us about it. Who knows, maybe they will be featured in our next IntegrityStar edition.