Posted by Natasha Martin, JD, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at 11:18 AM PDT

Greetings,  

I am writing to share with you an upcoming transition in the Office of Institutional Equity, as Andrea Katahira has decided to leave Seattle University to pursue other opportunities. 

Andrea joined SU in 2014 in the position of HR Compliance and Title IX Deputy Coordinator, and a year later was appointed SU’s inaugural Assistant Vice President for Institutional Equity, also serving as the university’s Chief EEO Officer, Title IX Coordinator, and ADA/504 Coordinator. In 2015, Andrea established the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), SU’s centralized office that serves all campus community members, and whose key role is coordinating the university’s response to concerns of protected class discrimination and harassment, sexual misconduct, and related retaliation. For the past six years, Andrea has provided trusted leadership, oversight, and direction regarding the university’s efforts to promote an equitable  working, learning, and living environment, and  SU has benefitted tremendously from her care, dedication, and immeasurable insights into this important work and its complexities, consistent with our Jesuit mission and values. We wish Andrea well in the next phase of her professional journey and thank her for her contributions.  

As we prepare for a full search and recruitment process, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Jill Moffitt will join Seattle University as Interim Assistant Vice President for Institutional Equity, Title IX Coordinator, and ADA/504 Coordinator, effective August 16, 2021.

Jill is a Senior Solutions Specialist with Grand River Solutions, an organization that provides Title IX and equity support and services to educational institutions across the country. Jill has more than 20 years of experience in higher education, including eleven years as a Title IX Coordinator at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Jill also served in several capacities within the Division of Student Affairs as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Life and as a member of the university’s Bias Incident Response Team and Title IX Advisory Board. Jill’s experience includes policy development, enforcement, implementation, education, investigations, hearings, and outcomes related to Title IX issues that impact faculty, staff, and students. Jill received her bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University, her master’s degree from Ball State University, and her doctorate from the University of Vermont.

In this interim role, Jill will collaborate with campus partners in continuing our institutional equity work, including coordinating the university's response to concerns of protected class discrimination and harassment, sexual misconduct, and related retaliation; facilitating supportive and protective measures; overseeing fair, sensitive, and timely investigation processes; providing consultation on the application of university policies; and monitoring our alignment with regulations and national best practices. Jill’s onboarding to SU is currently underway, and we look forward to welcoming Jill into this interim role on the 16th.

With the solid foundation already established for the Office of Institutional Equity, we are very well situated to build on and further enhance this important dimension of making SU an institution that is inclusively excellent for all.   

Sincerely,

Natasha Martin, J.D.

Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion