Office of Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity

Purposes of the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Program

One of the purposes of our program is to be fair in both form and effect, employment policies and practices must comply with an extensive array of federal and state laws, executive orders, rules, and regulations. The entire gamut of employment practices are affected by these fair employment rules, including not only direct and indirect contacts between the employer and employee but also pre employment and post employment relationships.

Another purpose of our program is to enhance understanding of the manner in which equal opportunity rules apply to the entire scope of decision making and interaction which constitutes the employment setting. The web site is designed to accumulate into one source document information which previously was dispersed and, thereby, not readily accessible to all those involved in personnel decision making. The ISU Office Procedure Guide, the Uniform Selection Guidelines of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the 1986 Guidebook to Fail Employment Practices, and applicable statutes set forth as rules and regulations by agencies responsible for enforcement of equal opportunity/affirmative action were utilized in developing its content.

If the University is to prepare its students to be productive and responsible citizens, it must expose them to ideas and experiences which broadens their perspectives of the complex world around us. Thus, the pursuit of educational excellence entails an appreciation of and commitment to cultural and demographic as well as philosophical diversity.

The ultimate goal of the University's Equal Opportunity and Diversity Program is to reflect the diversity of the population in a high quality faculty and staff. The real success of translating the letter and spirit of the program into progress toward that goal rests with the members of the University community who render the initial recommendation with respect to which applicants are to be considered for employment as well as those who make the final determination. Thus, each individual's commitment to the University's goal is vital to its successful achievement.

Our Staff

Carla R. Espinoza has served as the Iowa State University (ISU) Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services since 1996, then appointed jointly as Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity in 1998.

Ms. Espinoza has twenty-three years of personnel and employee relations management experience in such prestigious institutions of higher education such as the University of California, the University of New Mexico and ISU. She has been a consultant and lectured extensively on the topics of sexual harassment, workplace conflict resolution, diversity, and building web-based management systems. She has promoted diversity through research and education when she teaches or lectures on human resource planning and development.

Ms. Espinoza also serves as ISU's ADA Coordinator & Title IX Representative.

Ms. Espinoza serves on boards of numerous professional and civic organizations and has been honored as a “woman of achievement,” and “resource and role model to women of color” and “an advocate of citizenship and literacy.”

Jessica Stolee, PHR, joined ISU Department of Equal Opportunity and Diversity in August of 2005 in the position of Human Resource Specialist II. Ms. Stolee is a University of Northern Colorado graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, as well as the designation of Professional in Human Resources (PHR). Ms. Stolee has previously worked in publicly held and non profit organizations in management HR roles..

Lisa K. Lee, joined the ISU Department of Equal Opportunity and Diversity as the Administrative Specialist. Lisa is an East Central University (Oklahoma) graduate with a degree in Human Resources. She has more than 15 years administrative/executive assistant experience with eight of those years in Human Resources. Prior to coming to ISU, Mrs. Lee worked at Citibank in Chicago, IL and for The American Red Cross in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma..