Office of the Vice President for Culture and Connection

Mission

The mission of the Office of the Vice President for Culture and Connection is to offer visionary leadership and strategic guidance for inclusive cultural transformation, actively participating in strategic planning, program development, and policy formulation. Our purpose is to cultivate an equitable environment that maximizes student thriving and success and ensures all members of the uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø community experience sustainable belonging and a deep sense of community.

Vision 

To realize the promise of our faith-based liberal arts mission, uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø will create a resilient, unified institutional culture where belonging and equitable opportunity are valued, serving as a model for preparing diverse leaders of high character.

Welcome message from the Office of the Vice President for Culture and Connection

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was established in March 2018 to live into our Lutheran values of seeking to transform lives, systems, and communities so that all may belong. The college has already laid important groundwork to foster a fertile environment for treating each and every campus community member as being inherently worthy of welcome, support, and community.

After 10 years of growth in strengthening campus connection and building students¡¯ intercultural skills, uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø has evolved its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion into the The Office of the Vice President for Culture and Connection beginning in 2026.

"What makes uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø remarkable is our commitment to connection and to the many cultures, identities and lived experiences that shape our campus and the broader Quad-Cities community,¡± said Dr. Gauri A. Pitale, vice president for culture and connection. ¡°We build bridges and foster meaningful relationships, because at its core this is about human connection.¡±  

The goal of this office is to build on that foundation to move uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø toward a more inclusive community, one that continues to honor the Five Faith Commitments, particularly the social justice tradition. 

uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø is a community driven by purpose, respect and civic responsibility. It strives to create the best environment where every member of our community can achieve personal fulfillment and success. ¡ª uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Community Principles

uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø recognizes that our success is dependent on how well we value and engage the wide range of identities, experiences, and perspectives  of students, employees, alumni and external constituents. To that end, we are committed to inclusive excellence, a strategic framework that encourages us  to actively examine and evaluate institutional policies and practices. This assessment will allow uedbetÌåÓý¹ÙÍø to set goals with measurable outcomes evidenced in our strategic plan. Our focus for the next few years is to expand opportunities for access to all, commit to professional development, and develop new ways of operating that will be transformative for the college and our community.

Meet our team 

Office of the Vice President for Culture and Connection

Dr. Gauri Pitale (she/her), Vice President of Culture and Connection

Ashley Allen (she/her), Executive Director of Intercultural Experiences

Steve Wehling (he/him), Civil Rights Director and Title IX Coordinator

Office of Student Cultural Connection (OSCC)

(Vacant), Assistant Director of Student Cultural Connection and LGBTQ+ Coordinator

Leticia Martinez (she/her), Administrative Assistant

Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISSS):

Juanita Trevi?o Perez (she/her), Immigration Specialist

Tyler Kinney (he/him), International Student Advisor and Program Coordinator

Contact us

Vice President for Culture and Connection
Bahls Campus Leadership Center 101
vpcultureandconnection@augustana.edu
309-794-7594

Office of Student Cultural Connection (OSCC)
Gerber Center 420
inclusion@augustana.edu
309-794-8270

International Student and Scholar Services (OISSS)
Gerber Center 402 (G?vle 4)
oisss@augustana.edu
309-794-8220