Jonathan Chavez Baez, MA
Assistant Vice President for Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
Office: Churchill Hall 222
Email: chavezbjo@sou.edu
Phone: 541.552.6478
Hablo Español
Jonathan Chavez Baez was born in Cuautla Morelos, Mexico. At the age of 10, he immigrated with his family to the U.S. He is a graduate of Phoenix High School, received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Southern Oregon University and his Master of Arts in Education: Educational Leadership and Policy in Higher Education from Portland State University. For the past 14 years, Jonathan has been working for Southern Oregon University in various capacities. SOU President appointed Jonathan to form the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Team from May 2020 to June 2022.
Throughout his career, Jonathan has devoted his time working with the Latino/a/x community to increase high school graduation, college enrollment, parent engagement, support to undocumented/DACAmented students, and the creation of numerous programs for underrepresented students. He also has over 19 years of experience working with youth in Southern Oregon. In addition, he is currently the Co-Director of Academia Latina hosted at Southern Oregon University. Jonathan’s passion is the implementation of programs in higher education institutions that can help guide underrepresented students obtain a college education. Also at SOU, Jonathan is now chair of the Committee for Equity & Diversity (CED); member of Enrollment Management Council, Diversity Scholarship and Strategic Planning Committees. In his free time, he is a member of numerous boards and organizations that include the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF), OCF’s Latino Partnership Program, the Southern Oregon Latino Scholarship Fund, Latino/a/x Interagency Committee, Phoenix-Talent Schools, and Oregon Childhood Development Coalition. In March 2017, Jonathan was appointed to the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs (OCHA) by Governor Kate Brown. He is now serving his second term with OCHA.
Amanda Casto, PhD
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Faculty Liaison
Email: castoa@sou.edu
Phone: 541.552.7051
Amanda Casto is an Assistant Professor of Education in the School of Education, Leadership, Health & Humanities. She teaches classes in the Education Studies Major, Master’s of Science in Education, and Ethnic and Racial Studies programs. Since arriving at SOU in 2019, Amanda has collaborated with many faculty, staff, and students across campus with the shared goal of achieving genuine inclusivity, equity, and social justice. Last year, she served as SOU’s Education Equity Plan Coordinator. Since 2020, Amanda has been an involved participant on the Committee for Equity and Diversity, and is now honored to serve as the Faculty Liaison to the Office for EDI.
Kenwanicahee Kravitz, MLS
Native Nations Liaison
Office: Churchill Hall 222
Email: kravitzk@sou.edu
Phone: 541.552.6937
Kenwanicahee Kravitz, is a culture bearer, tribal advocate and Native scholar with a deep knowledge and understanding of tribal community, culture and protocols. She is an enrolled tribal member of the Madesi Band of the Pit River Nation and a descendant of the Northern Wintu people. Mrs. Kravitz holds a Master of Legal Studies with emphasis in Federal Indian Law and Tribal Self Governance from Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law as well as a BA in Native Studies Leadership from Northwest Indian College.
As a Native American woman, she is all too aware of the unique history and experiences of her people and the challenges they face daily. She has extensive tribal advocacy experience, has worked within tribal community and also stepped beyond cultural divides as an advocate for Native education, tribal sovereignty, Indigenous language revitalization, inclusion of Native people and their voice as well as tribal community wellness. In addition to her tribal advocacy work she also has a background in cultural museum curation, Indian Child Welfare, program development and planning as well as over 20 years of business ownership and management experience. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, relative and one day ancestor. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being anywhere in the mountains and using her creative abilities.