Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs
Ulysses Tongaonevai
Director
Dr. Ulysses “Sione” Tonga’onevai was raised in westside of the Salt Lake Valley with childhood roots in Southern California. He is of Polynesian ancestry and is a first-generation American Tongan. He is an alumnus of Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) where he completed his Associates Degree and transferred to the University of Utah where he completed his undergraduate and graduate studies. His undergraduate degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology and a Minor in Consumer and Community Studies. His graduate work let him to earn a Master’s of Education then a Doctor of Philosophy in Education, Culture & Society. His graduate studies focused on race, ethnicity, masculinity and antiracism practices in college athletics. Dr. Tonga’onevai continues to stay active with academic scholarship and practices pertaining to equity, diversity, and inclusion work in higher education. He serves the SLCC community hand-in-hand with the rest of the ODMA staff to advocate, empower, affirm, embrace, and most importantly to elevate student success.
Campus:
Taylorsville
Building:
STC
Room:
101 K
Phone:
Email:
Pronouns:
He/Him/His
Alisi Mateitalo Hoa'mofaleono Niupalau
Assistant Director
Alisi Mateitalo Hoa’mofaleono Niupalau is a first-generation, Tongan American from San Mateo, California. She attended the College of San Mateo before transferring to the University of Utah, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Promotion and Education then a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership & Policy with an emphasis in student affairs. Alisi joined Salt Lake Community College in 2018 working with the TRIO Programs before accepting a position with the Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Office. She looks forward to working alongside the ODMA team to offer support, guidance, and to connect students with resources toward their academic and career aspirations at our institution.
Campus:
Taylorsville
Building:
STC
Room:
101 J
Phone:
Email:
Pronouns:
She/Her/Hers
Jamie Koger
Administrative Assistant
Jamie Koger is a Filipino American, born in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Her education, along with experiences traveling internationally including Mexico, Puerto Rico and Europe, have informed her of cultures, practices and ways of knowing. Jamie currently is the Administrative Assistant, serving as the initial point of contact and programmatic support for ODMA. She brings a student-centric attitude, commitment to promoting and supporting the environment of diversity and inclusion, and team-oriented mindset to SLCC.
Student Involvement Center
Campus:
Taylorsville
Building:
STC
Phone:
Email:
Pronouns:
She/Her/Hers/Ella
Tevita Ūánga (Leka) Heimuli
Secretary
Allàh-u-Abhà! Mālō e lelei! Fakaalofa lahi atu! Leka is a first-generation, college graduate alumnus of Kearns High School and Salt Lake Community College. They are a native of Utah with Polynesian roots. They enjoy writing, listening to music, cooking, eating good food, and dancing. "Be You, Be Comfortable and Be Beautiful" holds precedent to core values that has helped shaped Leka to be the person that they are today. They are passionate about universal education, spirituality, social justice, equality and equity, cultural identity, community involvement, and trans and queer activism. They are continuing their education and pursuing a degree in social work and gender studies.
Campus:
South City
Building:
South City
Room:
SCM 1-140
Phone:
Email:
Pronouns:
He/She/They
Multicultural Success Coordinators
The Multicultural Student Success Coordinators, advocate for all students towards continued success and retention. We motivate, encourage students and teach them responsibility to get them involved in their education. We celebrate their success and educate them to set their own realistic academic performance goals. We discuss topics on difficult dialogues and provide a safe space and atmosphere. Many of the coordinators speak other languages and will help to connect people to any resources that are available to a wide range and variety of students.
Glory Johnson-Stanton
Manager Multicultural Initiatives
Hello, my name is Glory. I’m a Multicultural Student Success Manager and Coordinator for African American/African student populations. I’m here to assist students with informed choices and successfully assist them to attain their educational goals holistically. I’m also the Advisor of the SLCC Black Student Union. I encourage you to take some time out to visit the Office of Diversity & Multicultural Affairs at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. We are dedicated to helping you formulate your plans for success. We also provide mentoring programs, internships, resources, and other opportunities. I look forward to working with you soon!
Resources
Campus:
Taylorsville
Building:
STC
Room:
101 U
Phone:
Email:
glory.johnson-stanton@slcc.edu
Pronouns:
She/Her/Hers
Brenda Santoyo
Dream Center Manager
Brenda Santoyo is an SLCC alumnus, and the College has been a home away from home for her for several years now. She completed her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy with an emphasis in Student Affairs at the University of Utah. As a daughter of Mexican undocumented immigrants, she has always strived to serve the individual needs of her beloved community. Brenda’s drive and passion for the field stem from her background in serving undocumented students initially enrolled in the Bridge to Success and Bruin Scholars programs through the office for Orientation & Student Success. In her time at the College, she has played a role in launching the Bruin Dreams scholarship program, maintaining the Undocumented Student Ally Training, upholding the charge of the Undocumented Student Resource Committee, and managing SLCC’s Dream Center, the second in the state of Utah, now as the inaugural coordinator.
Resources
Peter Moosman
Gender & Sexuality Student Resource Center Manager
As a first-generation college graduate native to Utah, Peter has been with SLCC for almost ten years. Peter graduated from SLCC in 2011 with degrees in Humanities and Political Science then transferred and graduated at Weber State University in 2014 with a degree in Civic Advocacy. After coming out as gay in 2015, their whole life has shifted and is now excited to serve SLCC as the inaugural Gender & Sexuality Student Resource Center coordinator. Peter is enthusiastic about blending their passions for education, advocacy, and human rights into their career.
Resources
Campus:
South City
Building:
SCM
Room:
1-140
Phone:
Email:
Pronouns:
He/Him/His, They/Them/Their
Winter Rex
Student Success Coordinator American Indian/Native American Students
Winter is a first-generation college student. She is a proud member of the Blackfeet Nation of the Blackfoot Confederacy from Montana and Alberta. Winter received her BA in Commutation from Montana State University-Northern. She is excited to help Native students through their educational journey. Winter is an advisor to the American Indian Student Leadership Club, and she invites all to attend the meetings.
Resources
Campus:
Taylorsville
Building:
STC
Room:
101 H
Phone:
Email:
Pronouns:
She/Her
Shagufta Khan
Student Success Coordinator Multiracial and Refugee students
Shagufta Khan joins the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs (ODMA) as the Students Success Coordinator for Multiracial and Refugee students. She was born in Aligarh, north of India, and later moved to Utah. Shagufta received her Master’s in Special Education from the University of Utah. She joined Salt Lake Community College in 2022 as an adjunct faculty and now teaches Education 1400, Study of Disabilities. Shagufta is excited to be a part of the ODMA team and to use creative approaches and her lived experiences navigating higher education to help students from various cultures and backgrounds achieve their goals.
Resources
Campus:
Taylorsville
Building:
STC
Room:
101 M
Kimberly Querales
Student Success Coordinator Latinx Students
Hablo Español
Kimberly Querales is a first-generation, Venezuelan American from Salt Lake City, Utah. She attended Utah Tech University in sunny St. George where she received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Kimberly is the Coordinator for Latinx students and helps advise the LUChA (Latinxs United for Change and Activism) club. She is passionate about advocating for diversity and mental health in higher education and is looking forward to being a resource for students pursuing their academic aspirations.
Campus:
Taylorsville
Building:
Student Center (STC)
Room:
101F
Phone:
Email:
Pronouns:
She/Her/Hers/Ella
Bernice Ova
Student Success Coordinator Pacific Islander students
Talofa Lava! Bernice Agnes Mauinatu-Ova is a first-generation, Samoan American from Southern California. She attended the University of Utah and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Family, Community and Human Development with a minor in Psychology. Bernice also received her undergraduate certificate in Pacific Island Studies and gained contemporary knowledge about the Indigenous Pacific and global Pacific Islander diaspora. Bernice is the coordinator for Pacific Islander students and helps advise the SLCC Pacific Unity Association (PUA) club. She looks forward to being a resource for students as they navigate their college experience and complete heir goals toward graduation.
Resources
Alisi Mateitalo Hoa'mofaleono Niupalau
Interim Student Success Coordinator for Asian and Asian American students
Resources
Campus:
Taylorsville
Building:
Student Center (STC)
Room:
101 J
Phone:
Email:
Vacant
Womens Initiatives & Programming
Cristina Guerrero Perez
Dream Center Coordinator
Hablo Español
Cristina, a first-generation student, DACA recipient, and an SLCC alumnus, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Writing and Rhetoric Studies from the University of Utah. As an undergrad, Cristina has provided support to students as the Writing and Rhetoric Fellow for the SLCC Dream Center and aided with many research projects focusing on first generation students and undocumented immigrants. She started her career as an Admissions & Concurrent Enrollment Advisor at Granite, Jordan, Canyons, and Murray school districts, cultivating connections with staff, and faculty while learning about resources available to prospective college students. Cristina supports the community in a multitude of ways, and she hopes to continue uplifting students in the ways that she hoped she was supported when she was a student.
Shari-Fa Harrigan
Multicultural Black/ African Student Success Specialist
Shari-Fa Harrigan is a Part-Time Multicultural Student Success Specialist who works at Salt Lake Community College. For the past five years, she has worked on helping students get started at the college with their admissions application process, residency questions, and informing students about the resources the college has to offer.
Shari-Fa currently works in the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs where she provides outreach to the African American, African, Black Students enrolled at SLCC. While working in ODMA, she hopes to provide individual support and cultivate a friendly environment.
Shari-Fa is passionate about helping new and returning students enroll. She ensures that perspective students are fully equipped to attend classes, she advises students to get involved in extracurricular activities, and makes sure students know their way around the campus. Her goal at the college is to make sure students of color feel comfortable and safe on campus and in classrooms.
After graduating from high school in St. Thomas U.S Virgin Islands, Shari-Fa applied to SLCC to pursue her career of becoming a Wedding and Event Planner. She has successfully completed the courses in the Fall semester of 2020 through Salt Lake Community College. She is currently working on getting a degree in Hospitality Management.
Student Staff
Umme Haq
My name is Umme Haq. I was born in Pakistan and raised in Saudi Arabia. I'm majoring in business accounting. My future goal is to be a business lawyer and open my own law firm. As an immigrant student, it's been a great honor to be part of SLCC and work at the Office of Diversity. I work at ODMA so that I can help other students with various backgrounds and cultures to make them comfortable and support them in understanding their concerns.
Yared Nevarez
Yared is part of the campus internship program.
Kai Lyon
GSSRC Intern
Kat is part of the Taylorsville campus internship program.
Braden Timmerman
GSSRC Intern
Braden is part of the Taylorsville campus internship program.
Adam Ibrahim
Federal Work Study
Stephanie Le
My name is Stephanie Le. I am a first-generation student majoring in Radiology Technology and I hope further my education into mammography. I am fluent in both Vietnamese and English. I am looking forward to meeting and helping other students at my time in the ODMA!
Jayson Carrier
Jayson Carrier is a first-generation Filipino student pursuing a major in computer science. He is passionate about technology and innovation. #computer science #filipino pride
Jorge Topete
Jorge Uriel Topete is a first generation student at SLCC. He has earned his Associates in Advanced Manufacturing and is now starting his career in Business. His plan is to continue finishing his studies at SLCC and eventually transfer to the University of Utah. As a first generation student, Jorge understands the struggle of not knowing what path to take in order to retrieve his goals. He hopes to help and give back to his community. He is excited to work at SLCC’s Dream Center and help his community.
Anna Djedjemel
Mel Telefoni
Federal Work Study
Melania “Mel” Telefoni is a Tongan American first-generation college student born in San Francisco, California. She attended high school in Papua New Guinea and recently moved back to the States in 2022. She is a Biology major and is currently in the Federal Work Study program at the SLCC Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.
Naomi Sotelo
My Name is Naomi Sotelo, I’m first-generation from Mexico. I’m majoring in Mechatronic Engineering! I speak Spanish and English. I practice cross country/track and field, and I have my own crochet business. As part of the LatinX multicultural success office it’s my job to help LatinX students with their questions about school and student success. I am happy to help!
Darnell Yazzie
Hi, my name is Darnell Yazzie. I’m a Diné (Navajo) and a first-generation student studying Business. Aside from school, I am a part-time photographer, love to play pool and anything to do with lifting weights or cross fit. ODMA has always supported me as a Native American Indian student and it’s a safe space for me. The overall environment is great for students like me!
Mateo Ruelas
Mateo Ruelas is a first-generation Chicano college student at Salt Lake Community College. He is born and raised in Glendale, Utah. Mateo is working on his Associate Degree of Science in Psychology. Mateo plans to one day obtain two Ph.D.'s in this field. He hopes to become a professor of psychology and conduct his own research; contributing to the lack of cultural focus and incorporation in psychological studies. Mateo currently serves on the Multicultural Student Council over the Latino/a/x and Hispanic communities. During his free time, Mateo loves to be among the trees or nature. Whether hiking, biking, driving through the canyons, or walking through a park, anywhere alongside nature is a relaxing time.