Raechele L. Pope

Raechele L. Pope’s scholarship interests and publications generally focuses on a social and organizational analysis of equity, access, inclusion, and engagement. She examines the components of a multicultural environment and the necessary, concrete strategies, competencies, and practices to create and maintain such campus environments. Specifically she has developed a program of research that focuses on understanding and re-examining the core assumptions, theories, and organizational structures and practices of student affairs. Her scholarship has challenged (a) the assumptions of how the field defines professional competence and efficacious practice, (b) the relevance of student development theories for students of color, and (c) the nature of traditional planned change strategies used in student affairs. Dr. Pope is the lead author for Multicultural Competence in Student Affairs: Advancing Social Justice and Inclusion (2019), Creating Multicultural Change on Campus (2014) and Multicultural Competence in Student Affairs (2004). In addition, she is a co-editor of Why Aren’t We There Yet? Taking Personal Responsibility for Creating an Inclusive Campus. Her work has also been published in such journals as the Journal of College Student Development, NASPA Journal, Journal of Counseling and Development, and the Journal of American College Health. She is the 2017 recipient of the Contribution to Knowledge Award, the 2015 Senior Scholar Award, 2009 Robert H. Shaffer Award for Academic Excellence as a Graduate Faculty Member, 2004 recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Multicultural Education Award and the 1999 recipient of the Emerging Scholar Award, all from premier higher education associations. Dr. Pope has a strong history of professional service and consultation within higher education.

Dr. Pope is the Graduate School of Education Associate Dean for Faculty and Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer and an Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo. She teaches in the Higher Education and Student Affairs graduate programs Dr. Pope integrates multicultural issues into all of her courses and designs her courses in such a way that students are challenged and empowered to take responsibility for their learning process.