Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee | Allegany College of Maryland

Student and Teacher

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee exists to promote a community of teaching and learning at ACM where diverse populations are welcomed, their voices are heard, their opinions are valued, and their experiences are validated.

We maintain that:

DIVERSITY includes all the ways that people differ, encompassing race, ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, and/or physical appearance.
EQUITY means fair treatment for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers that prevent the full participation of some groups.
INCLUSION happens when power is shared, creating environments in which any individual or group can feel valued, respected, supported, and fully able to participate.

We believe that decision-makers, even those with the best intentions, can often use past experiences to make assumptions about others which impact opportunity for marginalized groups. Therefore, it is critical to have multiple points of view included when creating an equitable community.

To see how people’s assumptions impact their decisions, watch this short video Blind Spots.

To see how your assumptions might impact your decision-making, take the Harvard Implicit Association Test.

Discover more...

Access & Disability Resources

Aspiring Young Mentors

College to Community Partnership Center

Diversity Report

Human Resources

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Pantry

All Gender Restroom Locations

Title IX

DEI Committee Members

Misty Ballou, Co-Chair
Administrative Associate, IT Center for Excellence and Forestry

301-784-5397
Technology 217

AA, Montgomery College

Tracy Reese, Co-Chair
College and Career Coach Coordinator | Instructor, English and Developmental Education

301-784-5370
Humanities 14

BA, University of Pittsburgh
MA, Simmons College

June Bracken
Director of Academic Access & Disability Resources | Instructor, Developmental Education

301-784-5112
Humanities 1

BA, Gordon College
MEd, University of Virginia
EdD, West Virginia University

Connie Clifton
Dean of Educational Services | Instructor, Business

301-784-5429
Humanities 50

BA, West Virginia University; MBA, Frostburg State University; DEL, University of Charleston

Luanne Cook
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Recruitment and Retention Specialist

301-784-5044
Technology 227

AA, Tidewater Community College; BS, Fairmont State University; MS, University of Maryland Global Campus

Landon Defibaugh
Student Services and Technology Assistant

814-652-9528 ext. 1-6201
Bedford Campus, Office 11

AS, Allegany College of Maryland
BS, St. Francis University

Jason Gaither
Clinical Coordinator, Human Service Associate

301-784-5556
Allied Health 240

A.A., Allegany College of Maryland; B.S., Frostburg State University; M.S.W., Aurora University

Dianne McMahon
Faculty Director, College to Community Partnership | Associate Professor, Sociology and Civic Engagement

301-784-5306
Humanities 48

BS, Carlow University
MA, University of Pittsburgh
PhD, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Brenda Owens RN, FNP-BC
Professor, Nursing

301-784-5584
Allied Health 269

AA, Allegany College of Maryland; BSN, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; MS, University of Pittsburgh

Melinda Thoele
Advising Specialist

301-784-5242
College Center 141-B

AA, Lincoln Land Community College, BS, University of Illinois at Springfield; MS, St.Louis University

Shanese Westfall
Human Resources Generalist

301-784-5231
College Center 177

AA, Potomac State College
BS, West Virginia University
MS, Capella University

Mihaela Wood
Dean of Arts and Sciences

301-784-5301
Humanities 6

BA, MA, University of Bucharest;
MA, PhD, University of Illinois

Erin Yokum
Director of Student Life

301-784-5205
College Center 160

BA, Lebanon Valley College
MA, Indiana University of Pennsylvania