Sara Contreras (she/her/hers)
Sara is celebrating over 38 years with University of Washington. In 1992 she transferred from UW Seattle to work in the then-new Education Program at UWT serving as graduate advisor and program administrator. In 2010 she joined the Office for Equity and Inclusion as the first program administrator for the unit. She received her bachelor’s degree from UW Tacoma as a first-generation graduate. Sara and her two children have lived in Federal Way since 1983. She enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
saracc@uw.edu | 253-692-4776
Nedralani Logotala (she/her/hers)
Talofa lava! Nedralani Logotala is the Program Support Supervisor for the Center for Equity & Inclusion. In this role, Nedralani supports diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across campus. She has a passion for supporting students through their identity development as well as providing services for students to close the equity gap.
Nedralani is a UWT alum class of '17. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Leadership. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Education in Student Development Administration in Higher Education at Seattle University. She is passionate about serving her Pasifika community and promoting safe and affirming spaces for marginalized student populations. When she is not at work, you can find her spending time with her family and husband, involved in her church youth community, or enjoying everything the PNW has to offer.
“O le ala i le pule o le tautua”
The pathway to leadership is through service
-Samoan Proverb
mailon@uw.edu | 253-692-4325
Jimmy McCarty (he/him/his)
Dr. Jimmy McCarty is Director for the Center for Equity and Inclusion. In this role, Jimmy leads diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives across UWT and its core constituencies. In this work, he builds community with underrepresented student populations, collaborates with faculty and staff across the university, and develops and maintains relationships with a diverse range of community partners across the Puget Sound region. He is also an Affiliate Instructor in the School of Education where he occasionally teaches courses in social justice education.
Jimmy is a graduate of Pepperdine University (BA), Claremont School of Theology (MA), and Emory University (PhD). Prior to coming to UWT, he held administrative and teaching positions at Emory University and Seattle University. Jimmy's research centers on the social ethics of racial justice, restorative justice, and peacebuilding. He has presented this research at national conferences and has published his research in peer-reviewed journals of religion and law. He is a series editor of The Business of Modern Life book series (Cascade) which grew from the framework developed in his co-edited volume The Business of War: Theological and Ethical Reflections on the Military-Industrial Complex.
In his free time Jimmy enjoys walks with his partner Desiree, cooking and eating delicious food, reading a good book, and hanging out with Kima, his adopted Alaskan Malamute.
jwmccar@uw.edu | 253-692-5699
Gabe Minthorn (he/him/his)
Shix pa’chway, haʔł sləx̌il (good day). My name is Gabe Minthorn (Yakama, Umatilla, and Nez Perce) I live and work on the ancestral homeland of the Coast Salish People. In particular, our campus is situated on the traditional territory of the Puyallup. I work for the Center of Equity and Inclusion as the Tribal Liaison.
My role as Tribal Liaison is to serve and support students on campus through recruitment and retention programs. I have worked in Pre-Kindergarten as an elementary Special Education Teacher assistant, taught middle school Personal Wellness, 7th grade English/Social Studies, I was a high school Literacy Coach and Social Studies teacher. I have coached middle school football, wrestling, and basketball, high school football and baseball. I also coached football and club baseball at Haskell Indian Nations University. The communities I serve are the Tribal Communities in the South Puget Sound area and those throughout the Pacific Northwest. I meet with tribes to determine how The University of Washington Tacoma can meet the needs of their students, both traditional and non-traditional, and how we can support the community’s goals moving forward.
I graduated from Blue Mountain Community College with an Associates of Arts Oregon Transfer Degree, Haskell Indian Nations University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Indian Studies, and Lewis & Clark College with a Master of Arts in Teaching. My professional journey through education has provided me the opportunity see student growth and development at every stage, leading students into college, careers, or military after high school.
I enjoy spending my free time with my wife Dr. Robin Minthorn and our daughter Roxie. We like to travel to see family and visit new places when we can.
NÁY, huy'. (That's all, until we meet again)
gminth@uw.edu | 253-692-4674
TeyAnjulee Leon (she/her/ella)
Hello, I am TeyAnjulee (sounds like tay-on-juh-lee). I am a second generation military kid, and grateful to call the PNW home. I serve in the Center for Equity and Inclusion as the Student Retention and Community Development Specialist.
My training as an artist informs my practices and interests personally, academically, and professionally. My role’s primary focus is on directing and growing the RISE Scholars program, but it also includes cultivating community for historically underserved populations within higher education and at our campus specifically. I am a proud University of Washington Tacoma graduate (MAIS ’18). Previously, I have worked in 8-12 public schools as a math educator, in Houston and Lincoln Nebraska in Student Affairs and Sociological Research, respectively. When I’m not sharing time with students, I love to play with my family, read, practice writing, and study fashion.
I love to hear and share stories, so please visit and share yours with me.
tmleon@uw.edu | 253-692-4533
Tanya Velasquez (she/her/hers)
Tanya Velasquez is a second-generation Chinese Mexican American and a first-generation college graduate from the University of Washington Tacoma. She is an Associate Teaching Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts, and a Faculty Development Associate for the Office of Equity and Inclusion. Central to her work is the study of race and racism in the United States and the development of inclusive, anti-bias pedagogies. In 2017 Tanya was awarded Outstanding Faculty by the student body and in 2020 she received UW Tacoma's award in excellence for distinguished teaching. When she’s not grading papers or mentoring students, Tanya enjoys spending time with her family and gardening.
iamtanya@uw.edu | 253-692-5847
Dr. Cassie Miura (she/her/hers)
Dr. Cassie Miura is Director of Grants and Special Projects for the Office of Equity and Inclusion and Assistant Teaching Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. She teaches courses in academic writing, rhetoric, and the humanities and loves working with UWT students.
Dr. Miura holds a Ph.D in Comparative Literature from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in English from Portland State University. She is a fourth generation Japanese American who was born in Hawaii and raised in the Pacific Northwest. In her free time, Dr. Miura enjoys spending time near the water and packing bento lunches for her two young daughters.
miurac@uwt.edu | GWP 228
Ever Jones (they/them/theirs)
Ever Jones (they, them, theirs) is a non-binary and transgender instructor of poetry and creative writing in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences and partners with the CEI to support the LGBTQIA2+ student community. In this role, they host the Queer Discussion Group, sponsor Pride Pack, offer one-on-one mentoring and assist the CEI with LGBTQIA2+ trainings and events. Ever's approach is community-designed, student-centered work supported by healing, joy and art.
everjones.com | MDS 307B