Submitted by South Puget Sound Community College
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) last week announced a new role on the College’s executive leadership team: Chief Diversity Officer. Parfait Bassalé will serve in this position and plans to further support the College’s core theme of “Equity” and commitment to cultivating an environment that reduces barriers and removes equity gaps.
Bassalé has worked at SPSCC for three years as the director of the A. Barbara Clarkson Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Center (DEIC). During his time in that role, Bassalé and DEIC staff have ensured the Center is a welcoming and supportive space that promotes the growth and development of the campus community.
“My tenure here so far has been a good experience,” said Bassalé. “The College’s leadership has demonstrated time and again that they are committed to doing hard work on difficult issues and I feel hopeful and confident that change will ensue.”
Under Bassalé’s leadership, the DEIC has equipped students, staff, and faculty with many tools and programs to work on equity and diversity in meaningful ways.
“To achieve the goals set out in our strategic plan and respond to the needs of our entire campus community, Parfait will lead this same kind of work from the highest levels of our organization,” said SPSCC president Dr. Timothy Stokes.
“He will also lead campus-wide efforts and actions aimed at transforming our institution, dismantling racism at the systemic level, and establishing equitable structures and processes in every aspect of what we do.”
In addition to his work at SPSCC, Bassalé will work to address system-wide equity issues by representing SPSCC on the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges’ newly formed Chief Diversity and Equity Officers Commission.
