Wofford College has named Taifha Alexander as the new assistant dean of students for diversity and leadership development in the Division of Campus Life and Student Development.
Alexander holds a bachelor of science degree in legal studies with a minor in theology from St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y. She also holds a juris doctor from Georgetown Law.
She has served as assistant director of student life for diversity initiatives at the University of South Carolina Aiken, where she was instrumental in expanding the availability of all-gender restrooms, expanding Heritage Month programming to include Latinx History Month, Native American History Month, LGBT History Month, Black History Month, Women’s History Month and Asian American Pacific Islander Month. Alexander also authored the university’s diversity statement. In her role as the UCLA Graduate Division’s coordinator of diversity and inclusion initiatives, Alexander served approximately 6,000 Ph.D. and master-level students.
“Taifha brings with her a wealth of experience in diversity and higher education as well as in student programming coordination to this assistant dean position,” says Roberta Hurley Bigger, vice president and dean of students. “We are excited to welcome her to Wofford.”
“I consider Spartanburg to be my home away from home,” Alexander says. She relocated in 2017 and reached out to Wofford staff to learn more about the college. “After hearing about their experiences and Wofford’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, I was determined to be a part of the Terrier Nation. Now, three years later, my goal as assistant dean of diversity and leadership development is to work toward situating Wofford as a thought leader in the diversity, inclusion and equity space by working with the college community to determine how to best implement evidence-based practices, initiatives and programs that will benefit the entire campus.”
By Laura H. Corbin