The Office of Institutional Diversity is excited to announce that Temmecha (pronounced “Te-me-sha”) Turner has been selected to serve as director of community diversity relations. She will begin her role on October 3, 2022.
The director of community diversity relations is a critical contributor to the university’s efforts to engage and serve external diverse communities and will provide leadership for multi-divisional initiatives to enhance and deepen support for students of color and their families in the Portland metro area. The role is based in the OSU Portland Center.
Temmecha currently serves as the supervisor of the Student Success Program within the Portland Public Schools and as a Student Engagement Coach. Her career includes leadership positions with Friends of the Children and Self Enhancement, Inc. in roles supporting mentorship, engagement and advocacy for BIPOC youth and families. She has more than 15 years of professional experience in the education and the nonprofit sector, specializing in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion and student success initiatives.
Over her career, Temmecha has built strong relationships with community partners serving Black, Latine and Native and Indigenous communities including Latino Network; REAP, Inc.; Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA); Camp Fire Program; Open Meadow STEP UP and Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) in Portland. Her reputation in the Portland educational community is as a thoughtful, compassionate and strategic leader and collaborator.
Temmecha is an OSU alumna, graduating in 2004 with her bachelor's degree in philosophy. She holds a master’s degree in business communication from Jones University and recently completed the Race, Equity and Leadership in Schools certificate at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Temmecha also currently serves on the leadership team of the OSU Black Alumni and Friends Network.
We are very grateful for the efforts of the search committee, chaired by Gina Galaviz-Yap, Juntos statewide director, and are excited to welcome Temmecha back to OSU and Beaver Nation!