University of Phoenix Leadership joins proceedings of NCORE® annual conference as member of National Advisory Council

Tondra Richardson, MBA, brings wealth of professional experience to planning and programming of annual conference

University of Phoenix is pleased to share that Tondra Richardson, MBA, director, Student Diversity & Inclusion, with the Office of Educational Equity, joined the proceedings of the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE®), as a member of the NCORE® National Advisory Council. The NCORE® conference, held May 28-June 1 in Honolulu, Hawai’i.

A major program of the Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies (SWCHRS) based at the University of Oklahoma Outreach / College of Continuing Education, the NCORE® conference is held annually and serves as the leading national forum of its kind, attracting national and international attendees representing more than 1,200 institutions of higher education, non-profits and other educational organizations. This year’s event featured more than 5,500 higher education practitioners, with more than 1,400 proposals submitted.

“I am honored to work alongside dedicated and insightful colleagues as part of the National Advisory Council for NCORE. As we continue the important work of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, the NCORE annual conference provides an opportunity to both share best practices and inspire one another in our work,” states Richardson. “Each year, I look forward to sharing innovative strategies that will not only enhance our efforts at the University of Phoenix but also set new standards in the DEIB space, driving impactful change for our students and the broader community.”

As a member of the National Advisory Council, Richardson serves on NCORE’s Student Affairs and Affiliated Professionals Committee to help provide recommendations to the SWCHRS, and the SWCHRS Executive Committee, as well as to NCORE® staff, for the planning and programming of the annual NCORE® conference.

In her role at University of Phoenix, Richardson provides leadership, training, and management for the University’s Office of Educational Equity focused to serve the University’s students, alumni, community and alliances. The OEE supports students and faculty year-round with programs like the annual Inclusive Leadership Summit, Educational Equity webinar series, and an internal offering for staff and faculty, The Inclusive Café. 

Richardson has over 20 years of experience in higher education and is certified by the National Diversity Council as a Diversity and Inclusion Practitioner and completed Cornell University's Diversity and Inclusion certificate program. In addition to being a diversity and inclusion practitioner, her areas of expertise include conflict resolution and risk management with over 15 years of experience in the Office of Dispute Management at University of Phoenix where she was also certified by the Association of Title IX Administrators as a Title IX Coordinator.

Richardson currently serves on the Board for the Diversity Leadership Alliance and chairs the Education Committee for the Diversity Leadership Alliance. Richardson was awarded the Diversity Leadership Alliance & Arizona Society for Human Resource Management Volunteer of the Year Award, and most recently was selected as an honoree of the 2022 class of leading women in higher education by the publication, Diverse: Issues In Higher Education.

Richardson has been an employee with the University of Phoenix since 2001 and earned her Master of Business Administration from the University in 2008.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit  phoenix.edu.