Leadership
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Engagement Director
versha.anderson@paradisevalley.edu
Dr. Versha J. Anderson joined Paradise Valley Community College in the Fall of 2019 as Communication Faculty and currently serves as the college's Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Engagement. In addition, Dr. Anderson is a member of the graduate faculty at Arizona State University's West Campus teaching in their Master's in Communication and Advocacy program. Previously, Dr. Anderson served as Communication Faculty at Estrella Mountain Community College and as a certified trainer for the National Conflict Resolution Center.
Throughout her academic career, Dr. Anderson has focused on the intersections between culture, conflict, and communication. She has researched and presented on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues such as educational equity focusing on culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy as well as intersectional activism and social justice communication. For example, she lived in Munich, Germany for 3 months studying intercultural transitions and migrant-host relationships between German citizens and refugees. In addition, she co-led Title V supplemental grant efforts at Estrella Mountain Community College focused on Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions Supplemental Award: Connecting through Culture and Communication a supplement to Title V: Placement, Pathways, & Prevention - Harnessing Acceleration to Reduce Barriers to Timely Completion. She has co-led and coordinated a Conflict Transformation Summit, a Real Talk Real Issues Conference, and the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication's Doctoral Program. Dr. Anderson has received multiple accolades for her teaching and service, most recently, she was named the 2021 Diversity Leader of the Year through the Diversity Leadership Alliance.
Dr. Anderson received her Ph.D. at Arizona State University, her M.A. at Colorado State University, and her B.A. at the University of Rhode Island, all in Communication. She also has a Master's Certification in Peace and Reconciliation Studies from Colorado State University and holds an international certification in facilitation and dialogue through the Institute for Global Integral Competence.