Our Commitment
ACU Dallas is committed to greater understanding, equity and inclusion among marginalized groups. ACU Dallas aims to:
- acknowledge and validate the experience of our diverse populations, to listen to their voice and story and to grow in our solidarity for a more just world;
- increase understanding among our staff, faculty and adjunct faculty by participating in annual book studies;
- include learning outcomes to foster respect and belonging in our curriculum;
- require diversity training and implement learning communities for robust conversation — beginning with our campus administration and including our faculty and staff;
- greater intentionality and purpose in hiring diverse faculty.
“Our aim has been to establish structures, practices, and culture for long-term systemic change in our organization.” – Dr. Stephen Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, ACU Online
Meet our Vice President for Intercultural Engagement and Belonging
Dr. Jennifer T. Butcher is the vice president for intercultural engagement and belonging at Abilene Christian University for the Dallas campus. Among her duties in this role, Jennifer will cultivate a supportive and inclusive work environment for all employees, create and drive forward strategies and practices that ensure commitment to diversity for employees and students, and promote opportunities for ongoing employee growth and professional development.
Additionally, Jennifer is a professor in the School of Organizational Leadership at ACU Dallas, where she teaches courses in the online Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Program and serves on dissertation committees. She also participates in various university committees including the ACU Diversity Council, ACU Dallas Diversity Action Council and the Online First Year Experience Project.
A member of numerous professional organizations, Jennifer is a current member on the Texas Association of School Administrators Higher Education Committee. She was named Advocate of the Year by the Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration (TCPEA) in 2018. In 2020, TCPEA recognized her as Educator of the Year. And again, she was recognized as 2021 President of TCPEA and as dissertation chair for Darlene Breaux, the 2021 TCPEA Dissertation of the Year recipient.
Jennifer brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in diversity in the educational context. She has presented at various international, national, regional, and state conferences. Her research and writing includes numerous publications on diversity in the educational setting, including Black Female Leaders in Academia: Eliminating the Glass Ceiling with Efficacy, Exuberance and Excellence; Addressing Issues of Systemic Racism During Turbulent Times; and Overcoming Challenges and Creating Opportunity For African American Male Students, which was featured in IGI Global’s July 2020 comprehensive digital brochure on social movements, equality, misinformation and civic engagement.