Departments
Biography
Steven D. Parker (He, Him) is a transdisciplinary scholar-practitioner-leader in the fields of education and mental health. As a social worker, he has years of experience working alongside humans who are underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized in the United States. He has centered his work as a social worker around individuals who live with neurological developmental dis/Abilities as well as intellectual dis/Abilities. Leveraging critical praxis, Steven serves as an executive administrator in postsecondary education where he strategically focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, social and racial justice (DEIA+). His work includes critical strategies that address disparities with the student and employee populations. He has experience working with public-four-year, public-two-year, technical, minority serving, high research universities/colleges, private-four-year, rural institutions, and religious affiliated institutions. As a transformative and innovative leader, Steven has championed DEIA+ initiatives at macro, mezzo, and micro levels within higher education that has included all stakeholders. His primary functional areas include anti-racism affairs, Title IX, affirmative action, equal employment opportunity, student affairs, and institutional conduct. Steven’s current research interest include cultural competence of postsecondary education stakeholders, bio-psycho-social well-being of marginalized persons, and critical strategy for restorative-dismantling of oppressive systems.
How did you discover Western?
Through an intensive search for institutions that leaned into innovation centering DEIA+.
What most excites you about your field?
The possibility for humanity to advance in away that unifies us all and allows for healing to occur for the fouls that have separated us.
