Meet Our Staff

As NIU’s vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and chief diversity officer, Sumner works to advance the university’s diversity, equity, belonging and inclusion goals in alignment with NIU’s vision, mission and values. She’s passionate about creating places and spaces where people, regardless of their backgrounds, can learn, grow and thrive.

Sumner reports directly to the president and is a member the president’s Senior Leadership Team.

She leads the Division of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI) at NIU. The division oversees each of NIU’s diversity and cultural resource centers; social justice education; prevention education and outreach; the Faculty Academy on Cultural Competence and Equity; and additional programs, resources and training that support broader student, faculty, staff and community engagement.

As Chief Diversity Officer, Sumner collaborates and partners with university leaders, students, faculty, staff and community members on numerous initiatives throughout campus and beyond. These efforts include the facilitation of several Presidential Commissions. She also works alongside various university and community partners as NIU prepares to advance from an emerging to a fully designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

Selected through a national search, Sumner joined NIU in 2023 after five years at Texas Tech University (TTU), where she became the first person to hold the university’s Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) title. At TTU, she helped advance TTU’s Hispanic Serving Institution efforts, established the Office of Institutional Diversity and led the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. The division included units, programs and centers that impacted students throughout the educational continuum. As CDO, Sumner worked with stakeholders across and beyond the university to support, engage and facilitate university-wide goals to increase diversity and engage in practices that foster inclusion and equity.

Jade Silva Tovar is a higher education administrator and chingona scholar committed to a student centered and assets-based approach in transforming higher education. She navigates her experiences in and through nepantla as a Chicana/Mexicana/Mexican American and first-generation high-school and college graduate/student and professional.

As the Assistant Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Northern Illinois University, Silva Tovar is a member of the Executive Leadership team within the Division of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She leads several units focused on inclusion and equity outcomes, inclusive leadership, faculty academy on cultural competence, social justice education, Center for Black Studies and Latino Resource Center. Silva Tovar simultaneously advances NIU’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center, Hispanic Serving Institution and First-Generation College student initiatives.

Silva Tovar provides visionary leadership and transformational services with a dedicated team of professionals using assets-based, transformational and culturally responsive practices to meet university strategic priorities and equity outcomes. She collaborates across the institution to inform and engage in inclusive and equitable practices and experiences for student, faculty and staff recruitment, retention, support and community building.

Silva Tovar is completing her Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Leadership from Colorado State University. Her research interests include the development of Chingona identity in undergraduate Latinas and applying critical race theory to emerging Hispanic Serving Institution practices. She holds a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Iowa.

Jennifer Withers is a longtime member of the NIU community. A double Huskie, Withers holds a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs and a bachelor’s degree in business management with an emphasis in human resource management. In her role as administrative assistant, she provides support to the vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion/chief diversity officer; the assistant vice presidents; and all units in the Division of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Withers works with the division administrative support team to ensure the efficiency of business, finance and human resources processes. She plays a pivotal role in providing program planning and event coordination for the executive leadership portfolio and assists with signature division experiences. She also serves as secondary support to division office managers.

Withers has been involved in various organizations throughout her NIU career, such as Chi Sigma Alpha, Kappa Delta Pi and the Society for Human Resource Management. In 2008, she received the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology’s Staff of the Year Award.

As a double alumnus with a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in finance, Newman represents a strong commitment to academic excellence. With over 20 years of experience, Newman is a results-driven administrative and financial professional in budget strategy, financial operations and organizational development across higher education, nonprofit and corporate sectors.

Newman serves as the Business Administrative Associate within the Department of Budget and Financial Planning, where she manages the fiscal, administrative and human resource operations for the divisions of ADEI and Student Affairs. Her leadership focuses on developing effective systems, policies and processes that strengthen operational efficiency and support institutional priorities.

Throughout her career at NIU, Newman has held leadership positions, including as Director of Budget, Financial Analysis and HR for the Division of Student Affairs, as well as Assistant Director of Business Operations at the Holmes Student Center. Her work has consistently focused on enhancing financial integrity, streamlining operations and supporting strategic planning across departments.

Before joining NIU, Newman held senior financial roles in both nonprofit and corporate organizations, including serving as Chief Financial Officer at a radio broadcasting company and Treasurer of a long-standing DeKalb, IL church. She currently serves as Treasurer of a DeKalb County not-for-profit organization, demonstrating her dedication to community service and responsible financial management.

A triple Huskie, Bringas holds an Ed.D. in student affairs and higher education, a master’s degree in adult and higher education and a bachelor’s degree in family consumer nutrition sciences with a specialization in family social services.

In 2004, Bringas was instrumental in establishing the first stand-alone Asian American Resource Center in the northern Illinois region. As the center’s inaugural director, she provides leadership and oversight for the facility, its functions, programs and services. The center collaborates with several campus partners, including the Asian American Certificate Program, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies and the Center for Burma Studies, and supports over 20 Asian-interest student organizations. 

Bringas is involved on campus and in the community, serving as a coach and support to many. She is an advisor for Alpha Phi Gamma, the Asian American Association, the Indian Student Association and alpha Kappa Delta Phi. She has also served on the board of directors of DeKalb’s 4-C Community Coordinated Child Care and Oak Crest Retirement Center. Previously the vice president of the DeKalb Women’s Club, she currently serves on the board of directors of the DeKalb County Housing Authority.

T. Ajewole Duckett earned her Ph.D., with distinction, from Indiana University Bloomington in African American and African Diaspora Studies. She also earned an MFA in Creative Writing with an emphasis on poetry. As the Director of the Black Studies Program, her focus is on strengthening the Black Studies minor and certificate through undergirding the program with theoretical and disciplinary alignment. Additionally, Duckett focuses on providing experiential learning and research opportunities for students via Study Abroad, the Black Studies Research Symposium and presenting their research at the National Council for Black Studies Conference. 

Molly B. Holmes (she/her) serves as the director of the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center. Her main role at the center is to support and advocate for equity for all genders and sexual identities at NIU and in the surrounding area. She initiates educational experiences and collaborations for the campus community that center students of color and those with marginalized gender and sexual identities, while encouraging student-led programming, leadership and ideas.

Holmes has enjoyed working with NIU students, faculty, staff, alumni and community stakeholders. She has led efforts in NIU’s recognition as one of the “Best of the Best” college campuses for LGBTQ+ inclusion and “Best in Illinois” for LGBTQ+ inclusion. She has also co-written peer-reviewed articles on LGBTQ+ inclusive faculty development initiatives and a case study on ethics in student affairs practice. She is committed to making the center and NIU a place where everyone can share their story.

Angélica Mendoza serves as interim director of the Undocumented Student Resource Center, where she oversees a broad range of administrative, programmatic and support services for NIU’s undocumented and mixed-status students. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing diversity initiatives and fostering student development in higher education.

Before joining the center, Mendoza served as assistant director of the Latino Resource Center, where she developed and implemented programs, assessed annual initiatives and collaborated with cultural centers and departmental units across campus to create social, cultural and academic programming for NIU students.

Mendoza remains deeply committed to the values and vision NIU upholds in serving diverse students, staff and faculty.

Christopher Mitchell has dedicated his career to creating environments where students are supported, challenged and empowered to succeed. His work centers on student success, leadership development, mentoring and cultivating a genuine sense of belonging, particularly for students whose experiences have too often been overlooked. As director of the Center for Black Studies, Mitchell leads strategic initiatives that strengthen retention, expand cultural engagement and build meaningful partnerships across campus. His leadership is grounded in data-informed decision making, collaborative relationship building and a commitment to equitable outcomes.

Mitchell earned a Ph.D. in educational psychology from Northern Illinois University, where his research examined belonging among Black men attending predominantly white institutions. Whether developing innovative programs, mentoring future leaders or shaping institutional strategy, he remains committed to helping students discover their purpose, strengthen their voice and thrive both academically and personally.

Luis Santos-Rivas has dedicated his career to helping diverse students achieve their dreams through higher education. Santos-Rivas leads the Latino Resource Center in offering academic studies and partnerships, retention support, resources and programming to the NIU community. He manages center operations alongside a team of professional and student staff committed to advancing student success.

Santos-Rivas has held many roles throughout his career, including at the University of North Georgia–Gainesville and Arizona State University. He has served as chair of the National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates and as professor of computer sciences and dean of the School of Computer Sciences at APEC, a private university in Santo Domingo. He is also the author of “Chasing a Rainbow” (Persiguiendo un Arcoiris), a bilingual English/Spanish children’s adventure book.

Born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Santos-Rivas immigrated to the United States in 2001. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer sciences from World University in Santo Domingo and a master’s degree in strategic communication and leadership from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. In 2012, he completed coursework for the Certified Diversity Professional credential through the Society for Diversity.

Ana Velazquez (she/hers/ella) is the director of equity and justice and an instructor in Latino Studies at Northern Illinois University. Upon graduating from Bradley University with a Bachelor of Science in community wellness and health, Velazquez went on to complete her Master of Science in higher education and student affairs from Northern Illinois University. Velazquez has centered much of her work around curriculum, staff development and strategic planning, particularly in relation to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. By developing and offering workshops related to the aforementioned, Velazquez has emerged as a thoughtful leader in DEIB initiatives and strategic planning. Moreover, her experiences have provided her with the skills to lead teams and be an effective change agent. She serves on her alma mater Latino Alumni Board to establish relationships among students and alumni and be a resource for emerging adults transitioning into their first professional job. Ana is a proud bilingual, first-generation Latina from a mixed-status household and tía of three nephews and one niece. Ana enjoys reading, exercising, nail art and content creation in her free time.

Adriane Hutchinson serves as director of the McKinley “Deacon” Davis CHANCE Program. She is an experienced leader in education who is passionate about helping people create positive change in their lives. In higher education, Hutchinson has worked with teams of faculty, staff and students to increase the achievement and persistence of students from diverse educational, cultural and economic backgrounds. She specializes in helping individuals think and learn well. Her work has included leadership in academic support services, disability services, developmental education, service learning, student success and retention, testing services, enrollment management diversity, equity and inclusion, parent and community involvement and other support services.