Meet the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Excellence
Dr. Nicki Gonzales is a Professor of History and Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion and has been at Regis since 2007. Nicki was born and raised in Denver and has deep family roots in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. The first in her family to attend college, Nicki graduated from Yale University with a BA in English literature, and from CU-Boulder, with a PhD in American History. She specializes in the American West, the US-Mexico Borderlands, and Social Movements. Her study of history and her commitment to Regis’ Jesuit values inform her work of making Regis a more inclusive community in which students, staff, and faculty from all backgrounds can flourish. Nicki is mom to two boys—Danny and Teddy—and enjoys time in the mountains, coaching basketball, gardening, and running. Nicki currently serves as Colorado State Historian.
Stephanie Colunga Montoya was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and is a proud alumna of Colorado State University where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and master's in Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE). After graduate school, she had her first encounter with the Jesuit community and worked at Georgetown University in their multicultural center. Appreciating the mission and values of a Jesuit institution, Stephanie knew she wanted to return to her home town and give back to her community. Stephanie enjoys working with college students specifically in the areas of holistic advising, identity development, advocacy and first-generation college student success. Currently, Stephanie is the Associate Director for Student Engagement & Diversity and has been at Regis for five years. Outside of her work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and enjoying the beautiful state of Colorado!
The newest member to join the ODEIE team is Fredricka Brown. Fredricka started working at Regis University in 2004 as a part of the Public Affairs department. Fredricka transferred to the Institute on the Common Good in 2008, where she was able to dive deeper into the University’s mission through her work. Most recently, Fredricka worked for the Office of Mission. She used this time to dig deep into what Regis’ mission means to her, as well as those in the Regis Community. She worked with her team to develop programming that broke down the mission and helped new faculty and staff learn and understand the mission so they could pass that on to students through action and their curriculums.
Fredricka is excited to work with the ODEIE team and sees this diversity, equity and inclusion work as the most important being done at the University as it is universal and timely. She hopes her ideas and hard work will help Regis grow as a safe space for their Latino/a/x, BIPOC, AAPI, LGBTQ+ and all underrepresented groups on campus. She is excited to continue to grow, learn and dedicated to taking this work seriously as a way to spread Regis’ mission in a way that helps all of Regis’ students grow and succeed.
Fredricka is a native of Northwest Denver. She has two daughters who she loves spending time with. She and her husband are currently working on landscaping projects on their home. She enjoys group fitness classes and reading when she isn’t at work.
