Staff Members
The Educational
Equity Center
staff is a culturally diverse group of professionals committed to providing
equity and diversity in the areas of race, gender and national origin:
Staff Profiles
Jean Lehman
Jean P. Lehmann is a Professor in the School of Education at Colorado State University. Dr. Lehmann has been the principal investigator on 23 state and federally funded research, evaluation, and training projects addressing issues of self determination, transition–related educator preparation, and models for increasing the post secondary success of students with disabilities since 1985. Most recently, she is a team leader on the “What Works” research project. The purpose of this project is to synthesize research written in the final decade and a half of the 20th century about secondary school programming for youth with disabilities. She just completed a regional project involving five states to increase access and retention of students with disabilities into post-secondary education.
Dr. Lehmann is an active adviser of doctoral students; winner of a prestigious University award for excellence in advising. Dr. Lehmann holds a Bachelor's degree in Special Education from Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt,
and a Master's degree in Vocational Rehabilitation from the University of
Wisconsin-Stout, and a Ph.D. degree in Educational Psychology from the University
of Northern Colorado.
Ramon Villarreal
Ramon F. Villarreal is a former Federal manager with a 30+ year career in civil rights, education, and technical assistance. His professional experience in the U. S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights includes Director, Customer Service, and Director of Compliance and Enforcement Division. Additionally, he has served as a Regional Equal Employment Opportunity Officer (EEO) and as a TRIO Program Officer. He has worked nationwide in mediating racial incidents, working in the Community Relations Service for the Department of Justice. As a Vista/Office of Equal Opportunity Program Officer, he developed and supported educational programs. Finally, his bi-lingual (Spanish-English) capabilities contribute to his work as Director.
Kathleen Rigsby
Kathy Rigsby has worked with two Desegregation Assistance Centers (DACs) in Region VIII, one at Weber State University (UT) and at Metropolitan State College of Denver (CO) where she served as Assistance Director. She has a strong background and training in gender equity, civil rights, program development and management, and staff development and training. Kathy has developed and published materials on Title IX compliance, on the prevention of sexual harassment, and the prevention of racial harassment. She has developed and delivered district-wide training to reduce racial and gender bias and on the prevention of sexual harassment for many school districts in Region VIII. Kathy has presented at numerous regional and national conferences on issues of Title IX and gender equity. Her particular areas of expertise include gender equity, women's history, civil rights, educational equity, reducing bias in school, and cultural diversity.
Jan Perry Evenstad
Jan Perry Evenstad has had prior experience working with a regional equity assistance center as an Equity Specialist at Weber State University and in a comparable position with the Title IV unit at the Colorado Department of Education. She has also worked to forward the concerns of educational equity for all students in the area of standards and assessment through her curriculum and program management positions with Denver Public Schools and the NW BOCES. Her first hand experience in working with Trio Programs as a counselor, teacher and assistant director at the University of Wyoming and Montclair State University has also strengthened her experience in providing for equal educational opportunities for students. She has taught at the secondary level in traditional and non-traditional settings and currently teaches a multicultural and urban education class at the Metropolitan State College of Denver. Her particular areas of expertise are civil rights, cultural diversity, gender equity, multicultural education, women's history, curriculum and instruction. She has developed training materials for workshops and staff development in the areas of standards and assessment, racial harassment, sexual harassment, multicultural education, and race and gender equity in education.
Martin Reinhardt
Martin Reinhardt is an Anishinaabe Ojibway citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians from Michigan. He is the CEO for Reinhardt & Associates. Martin is the former vice president for diversity and research for Educational Options, Inc, the former director of the Center for Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University, and the former director of Native American Programs at Central Michigan University. He has taught courses in American Indian education, tribal law and government, and sociology. He has a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the Pennsylvania State University, where his doctoral research focused on Indian education and the law with a special focus on treaty educational provisions. Martin has previously served as: a member of the Michigan Indian Education Council; Chair of the American Association for Higher Education American Indian/Alaska Native Caucus; Co-Primary Investigator for the Michigan Rural Systemic Initiative; and as an external advisor for the National Indian School Board Association. He also holds both a Bachelor's and a Master’s degree in Sociology.
Bonita Chase
Bonita Chase is a published author, Sunday School Teacher and all round conference expeditor. Her accomplishments are many and her talents are a huge addition to our staff. Her daughter is an ordained minister, whom she assists with children’s activities both her own grandchildren as well as those in the congregation. Her latest book is “Daughter, thy faith has saved thee”. Bonita’s knowledge of computer programs is a very valuable asset in the office. Her warm personality helps the office to project an image of friendliness and warmth to callers and visitors.
Monica Mendoza
Monica Mendoza holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing from the Metropolitan State College of Denver. She has worked for a number of years as an administrative assistant while completing her degree from Metro. Several of those years were with the City of Boulder Planning & Development Department. She is an advocate of equity in Education (with a small child of her own) and cultural diversity.
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