CEP – Council for Racial Equity, Praxis, and Presence
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The CEP – Council for Racial Equity, Praxis, and Presence is open to all members of the Association for the Study of Higher.
The purposes of CEP shall be to:
- Create a community of and for racially and ethnically minoritized, as well as Indigenous peoples and citizens of Native Nations members
- Organize forums for discussion of research and practice that centers education and racial in/equity and interlocking and intersecting subjectivities, systems of oppression/privilege, and justice
- Foster relationships with other entity groups to consider connections between their purposes and racially and ethnically minoritized scholars and practitioners
CEP Bylaws Proposed Bylaws
Approved by the CEP Membership and ASHE Board of Directors, March 2026
Effective April 1, 2026
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization shall be the CEP – Council for Racial Equity, Praxis, and Presence of the Association for the Study of Higher Education.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The purposes of CEP shall be to:
- Create a community of and for racially and ethnically minoritized, as well as Indigenous peoples and citizens of Native Nations members
- Organize forums for discussion of research and practice that centers education and racial in/equity and interlocking and intersecting subjectivities, systems of oppression/privilege, and justice
- Foster relationships with other entity groups to consider connections between their purposes and racially and ethnically minoritized scholars and practitioners
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the CEP shall consist of members of the Association dedicated to the advancement of the concepts of racial in/equity and interlocking and intersecting subjectivities, systems of oppression/privilege, and justice. Voting will be limited to members of record--those members of the Association who have indicated membership via the official ASHE membership record.
Removal of Membership in CEP
- Non-Payment of Dues: Failure of a member to pay dues automatically terminates membership in the Association and thereby CEP. At the member’s request and payment of current dues, anyone whose membership has been automatically terminated for nonpayment of dues may be reinstated by the Executive Director.
- Resignation. Any member may resign from the Association or CEP at any time upon written notification to the Executive Director. If a member resigns, their dues are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Removal. If continued membership of any person is believed to be contrary to the interests or purposes of CEP, the CEP Chair must notify the ASHE Executive Director prior to any action being taken. In consultation with the Executive Director, the CEP Leadership Team may:
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- refer the situation to the ASHE Ethics Committee for consultation and/or
- act on its own accord, following the due process protections afforded to members in the ethics policies and procedures but instead serving as the investigatory and hearing board; in this instance, the decision of the Leadership Team is final.
ARTICLE IV: FINANCE
Section 1. Budget. A proposed budget based on projected activities and funds will be presented annually to the Executive Director. Budgets operating in a deficit will require approval by the Board of Directors during the normal budget process.
Section 2. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the entity shall be the same as the Association.
Section 3. Management of funds. All funds will be managed by the Association in a separate account from general operating expenses and must maintain a net positive balance. Regular reports of these funds will be provided by the ASHE Executive Director.
Section 4. Fundraising. The entity may fundraise for event sponsorship and/or grants, consistent with the ASHE Advancement and Fundraising Policies and only with prior approval from the Executive Director.
Section 5. Contracts. The ASHE Executive Director is the only individual able to enter into contracts on behalf of the Association, including this entity.
ARTICLE V: COUNCIL LEADERSHIP
Section 1: Council Officers
Council Officers shall be elected by ballot by the Council membership through regular ASHE election processes and are as follows:
- Chair
- Chair Elect or Immediate Past Chair
- Communications Chair
- Graduate Student Representative
Section 2: Leadership Committee and Terms
The Leadership Committee plans and directs the activities of the Council and shall consist of the following:
- Chair – Year one will be served as Chair-Elect, years two and three will be served as Chair, and year four will be served as Past Chair. The Chair may not serve more than two elected consecutive terms. The Chair must hold a terminal degree.
- Chair-Elect – The Chair-Elect of the Council is the newly elected Council Officer, elected in the second year of the current Chair’s term. They serve as Chair-Elect in the third year of the current Chair’s term. The Chair-Elect shall work closely with the Chair to learn the duties of the Chair; shall assist the Chair in carrying out the business of the CEP; and shall perform the duties of the Chair within the Council in the absence of the Chair.
- Past-Chair – The Past Chair of the Council is the previous Chair of the Council and serves in this role in the fourth year of their term. The Past Chair serves as consultant to the Council on business matters and works closely with the Chair to manage activities that will further the objectives and aims of the CEP. In the event the Chair is absent from ASHE Board activities, the Past-Chair may serve in their stead.
- Communications Chair – The Communications Chair may not serve more than two elected consecutive terms.
- Graduate Student Representative – The Graduate Student Representative serves a one-year term. The Graduate Student Representative may not serve more than two consecutive elected terms. The Graduate Student Representative must be a graduate student at the time of election and must maintain student status for at least one academic term.
- Awards & Grants Chair – The Awards & Grants Chair shall be appointed by and serve at the will of the Chair of the Council. The Awards & Grants Chair nominates the Council Awards & Grants Committee members to the Council Officers and leads the awards process (i.e., recruitment, nominations, voting, notifications) in accordance with the ASHE Awards & Grants policies.
- Mentoring Co-Chairs – The Mentoring Co-Chairs shall be appointed by and serve at the will of the Chair of the Council. The Mentoring Co-Chairs shall nominate their successors to the Chair of the Council. The Mentoring Co-Chairs nominate the Council Mentoring Committee members to the CEP Officers and leads the Mentor-Protégé Program.
- Nominations Chair – The Nominations Chair shall be appointed by and serve at the will of the Chair of the Council. The Nominations Chair nominates the Council Nominations Committee members to the Council Officers and leads the nomination process (i.e., recruitment, nominations, voting, notifications) in accordance with the ASHE Nominations policies.
- Pre-Conference Co-Chair – The Pre-Conference Co-Chairs shall be appointed by and serve at the will of the Chair of the Council. The Pre-Conference Co-Chairs nominate the Pre-Conference Committee members to the Council Officers and leads the planning and implementation of the Council pre-conference in accordance with the ASHE programming policies. The Pre-Conference Co Chairs serve on the ASHE Program Committee.
Section 3: Election Process
- Nominations for officer positions shall occur annually and will be consistent with ASHE Nominations and Elections Policies and Procedures.
- In the event an officer, chair, or members cannot complete their term, the Leadership Committee may appoint a member of the CEP to fill the unexpired term.
Section 4: Duties of the Council Officers
- Chair. It shall be the responsibility of the Chair to manage the various functions of the CEP and to report and communicate with the Board of the Association on the needs of CEP members, programs and activities. The Chair will present to the Board an annual budget request to support CEP programs and activities.
- Communications Chair. The Communications Chair shall record and maintain the minutes from the meetings of the CEP. This position will also be responsible for correspondence to the general membership.
- Graduate Student Representative. The Graduate Student Representative shall engage the Council graduate student membership, advocate for interests and perspectives of graduate students on the Leadership Team and advise the Chair on matters of importance to graduate students. The Graduate Student Representative will also help manage the Council’s social media.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
Section 1: Regular Meetings
At least one regular meeting of the Council and its Leadership Team will be held each year and shall be known as the Annual Meeting. The meeting shall be held on a date and at a place corresponding with the Association conference. The attendees at that meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of conducting Council business.
Section 2: Special Committees
Special Committees shall meet at the direction of the Chair.
Section 3: Meeting Participation
All meetings of the CEP, its Leadership Team, and its Special Committees shall be open to any member of the Council. Any member will be entitled to bring before such meetings any item of business appropriate to the functioning and/or jurisdiction of the body assembled at a time provided by the Chair. Notification of such intent must be made to the presiding officer prior to the scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE VI: Awards
The Council will annually award The Founders’ Service Award and the Mildred García Award for Exemplary Scholarship. Nominations and selections for awards shall occur annually and will be consistent with ASHE Awards Policies and Procedures.
Section 1. CEP – Council for Racial Equity, Praxis, and Presence Founders' Service Award. The CEP Founders’ Service Award recognizes a member of the ASHE community who demonstrates sustained and long-term service to CEP. Service refers to engagement in any activity that supports the goals and objectives of CEP and fosters inclusiveness within the ASHE community.
Section 2. CEP – Council for Racial Equity, Praxis, and Presence Mildred García Award for Exemplary Scholarship. The Mildred García Award for Exemplary Scholarship will recognize and celebrate one early career, nontenured scholar-practitioner (e.g., visiting assistant professor, clinical assistant professor, or tenure-track faculty) and one mid-level or senior practitioner-scholar (i.e., tenured associate or full professor, senior/executive administrator) for their seminal, exemplary scholarship that focuses on issues specifically related to underrepresented Populations of Color and furthering inclusiveness in the field.
ARTICLE VIII: GRANTS
The Council will annually award the Caroline Turner and Darin Stewart Graduate Student and Early Career Scholars Professional Development Grant. Applications and selections for grants shall occur annually and will be consistent with ASHE Grants Policies and Procedures.
Section 1. CEP Caroline Turner and Darin Stewart Graduate Student and Early Career Scholars Professional Development Grant. This grant will provide important financial assistance to graduate students and early career scholars professional development at ASHE and/or their research about minoritized populations within higher education. The criteria and process for this grant will follow that of the ASHE Dissemination of Grant Policy. The annual grant will provide funds to support professional development or research expenses. The CEP Awards & Grants Committee will hold preference for graduate students and early career scholars who are members of CEP and whose scholarship advances the field of higher education’s understanding of the experiences of minoritized individuals and communities within higher education.
ARTICLE IX: BY-LAW AMENDMENTS
Section 1: Amendment Ratification
These By-Laws may be amended by two-thirds vote of the CEP members present at the Annual Meeting or responding to an electronic vote within a time limit set by the Leadership Team.
- Proposed amendments must be reviewed and approved by the ASHE Executive Director and ASHE Legal Counsel prior to appearing on an agenda or ballot to ensure alignment with existing policies.
- The amendments shall be placed before the CEP Chair and Leadership Team before the meeting at which such amendment is acted upon; and
- The amendment or amendments shall be distributed to the CEP membership of record no later for not less than a 30-day voting period.
- Approved amendments shall be submitted to the ASHE Board of Directors for final approval.
Section 2: Conflict
These Bylaws or their amendments may not be in conflict with the bylaws or policies of the Association for the Study of Higher Education or the laws applicable to the Association. The leadership of this entity group will understand and adhere to the policies of the Association, including, but not limited to the Inclusion, Equity, and Organizational Diversity Policy; Conflict of Interest Policy; and Ethics Policies.
CEP Newsletter
Catch up on the latest announcement updates from the CEP Executive Committee. See the most recent newsletter sent out to CEP members:
CEP Pre-Conference
The CEP Pre-Conference is a scholarly gathering for higher education scholars focused on supporting minoritized communities. The event combines virtual and in-person sessions to explore decolonial research, social justice, and collective liberation. It serves as a "counterspace" for educators to challenge traditional academic norms while fostering mentorship, solidarity, and community-centered scholarship.
CEP Awards
CEP – Council for Racial Equity, Praxis, and Presence Mildred García Award for Exemplary Scholarship
The Mildred García Award for Exemplary Scholarship will recognize seminal, exemplary scholarship that focuses on research and issues specifically related to underrepresented populations of color.
The García Award will be presented to one junior, nontenured scholar-practitioner (e.g., visiting assistant professor, clinical assistant professor, or tenure-track faculty) and one senior practitioner-scholar (i.e., tenured associate or full professor, senior/executive administrator).
CEP - Council for Racial Equity, Praxis, and Presence Founders' Service Award
The CEP Founders’ Service Award recognizes a member of the ASHE community who demonstrates sustained and long-term service to CEP. Service refers to engagement in any activity that supports the goals and objectives of CEP and fosters inclusiveness within the ASHE community.
CEP Mentor-Protege Program
The CEP’s Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) is intended to provide members of racially/ethnically minoritized populations with mutually beneficial mentoring relationships. This year we are excited to share that the MPP will continue our new format of mentoring communities. To facilitate this process, groups of protégés will be matched with mentors based upon primary scholarly and professional interests, elements of shared identity, and intended mentorship goals.
MPP involves four professional development opportunities through the academic year, one official MPP event and one meeting with individual mentoring communities each semester. The official fall programming event is October 24, the spring event is TBA. Mentors are responsible for coordinating and attending the individual mentoring community meeting in consultation with their protégés each semester but are not expected to attend the official MPP programming events except for the mentoring community time on November 8 (see tentative schedule). Our objective is that the mentoring communities will contribute to the protégé and mentor’s personal, professional, and scholarly development. The MPP program is open to graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, administrators, student affairs professionals, and faculty members. We welcome interested participants to apply to participate in this mentoring opportunity.
CEP Leadership
Meet the leaders of the CEP – Council for Racial Equity, Praxis, and Presence who are supporting the programs and outreach of the council. Interested in getting more involved with CEP? Reach out to the Council Chair for more information about involvement opportunities.
CEP Leadership Team
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Natasha N Croom
Associate Dean and Professor of Higher Education Clemson UniversityImmediate Past Chair -
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Marcia Sun
Graduate Research Assistant Oklahoma State UniversityGraduate Student Member -
Erin Satterwhite-David
Assistant Director for Membership Association for the Study of Higher EducationStaff Partner
CEP Awards Committee
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Jason P. Guilbeau
PhD, CAE Executive Director Association for the Study of Higher EducationStaff Partner -
Kat J. Stephens-PeaceAssistant Professor of Higher Education Ball State UniversityMember
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CEP Mentor-Protege Planning Committee
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Jocelyn A GutierrezClinical Assistant Professor The University of North DakotaCo-Chair
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Alicia Castillo Shrestha
Director for Conference and Professional Development Association for the Study of Higher EducationStaff Partner
CEP Nominations Committee
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Jason P. Guilbeau
PhD, CAE Executive Director Association for the Study of Higher EducationStaff Partner
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CEP Pre-Conference Committee
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Susana H. Hernández
Assistant Professor Northern Arizona UniversityCEP Pre-Conference Co-Chair -
Alicia Castillo Shrestha
Director for Conference and Professional Development Association for the Study of Higher EducationStaff Partner
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Tyanna Arista Emefa Clayton-Mallett MEd
Research Assistant University of MarylandMember -
Aspen DrudeManager, Center for Rural Health and Nursing The University of Texas at ArlingtonMember
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