Equity and Inclusion Staff
Vice President of Equity and Inclusion
As Vice President of Equity & Inclusion, Trumanue leads the Equity & Inclusion Division and the whole Minneapolis College organization on its continued journey of becoming an anti-racist institution. By engaging the whole campus community, his vision and strategic planning is guiding progress toward creating a climate that promotes inclusive excellence while examining institutional practices through an anti-racist lens. Contact Equity & Inclusion.
Program Coordinator
African American Education Empowerment
Dr. Charles H. Watson grew up straddling two worlds: the scholarship boy from the inner-city, learning in one world while living in another. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, a town of stark contradictions, his mother made one fact plain—few forces on earth exceed the transformative power of education. With such belief instilled to his core, Charles went on to graduate from Columbia University. Trained in classics of the western intellectual tradition, he then pursued doctoral studies in philosophy at Stanford University and later worked there as a post-doctoral teaching fellow in the humanities.
For 7 years, he held an interdisciplinary chair in the humanities, as a member of the teaching faculty at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. Since the fall of 2012, Dr. Watson has been an adjunct instructor at Minneapolis College in the Department of Philosophy.
Author of The Existential Imperative: On the Material Production of Authenticity, Charles seeks to encourage students of color in locating their narrative voices in a broader conversation about the examined life and the conditions for flourishing. Charles is interested in the service that can be paid to the civic good through the building up of intellectual and moral character. He believes the black intellectual tradition exemplifies learning as an act of self-emancipation and illustrates a biography in triumph of the human spirit under adverse circumstances.
Program Coordinator
Aubrey grew up in Sioux Falls, SD and is a member of Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. She graduated from South Dakota State University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology.
As a new resident to Minnesota, Aubrey enjoys spending time exploring the Land of 10,000 lakes. When she is not by the water, she likes to indulge in the multitude of food choices that the Twin Cities has to offer.
Aubrey has a passion of working with and supporting students from college exploration to graduation. Excited to be in the role of the American Indian Success Coordinator, Aubrey is looking forward to connecting with the Minneapolis College community and serving as a bridge for success for the Indigenous and Native American students at the college.
Program Coordinator
Latinos Unidos for College and Higher Achievement (LUCHA)
As a first-generation, daughter of Mexican immigrants, Sagrario grew up taking on many responsibilities. Of all the responsibilities she took on—being a third parent to her younger brother, coaching her parents through the naturalization process, and supporting her parents through their job search and professional development—her passion lied in empowering her family (her younger brother especially) to be ambitious with their dreams and professional goals.
Raised in a predominantly white neighborhood in suburban Minnesota, Sagrario faced the cultural tugs of two worlds; distanced from the cultural hub of her Mexican community in the city, she longed for connection to her heritage as she strived to fit into dominant culture. Still learning to embrace the nexus that is her identity, Sagrario is passionate about fostering an inclusive environment for Latinx students to celebrate, (re)connect, and (re)claim their cultural identity.
During her undergraduate career, Sagrario was able to put her passion to work as a board member for Mi Gente Latinx Student Cultural Center at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus. She is excited to continue her passion at Minneapolis College!
In her free time, Sagrario enjoys going on walks around Lake Bde Maka Ska and making collages with recycled magazines, celebration cards, and newspaper. She’s always looking for book recommendations, so feel free to send any her way!
Program Coordinator
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Recruitment & Empowerment
Peter is Hmong-Laotian American and was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He grew up in both Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Peter is committed to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competence through advocacy, education, and action. For BIPOC students to be successful, he believes that educational institutions and leaders need to understand who they are, celebrate their heritage, and invest in their overall growth. His passion is increasing DEI awareness and guidance that can inspire real change and positive impact for BIPOC students’ journey in higher education.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education – double minor in: TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certificate and Youth Ministry from Crown College (St. Bonifacius, MN) and a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis on Management at Bethel University (Saint Paul, MN).
Peter is married to his wife, and they have four children together. In his free time, Peter enjoys watching and playing sports: basketball, football, soccer, and volleyball. One of his favorite quotes is from former UCLA Basketball Head Coach John Wooden, “Talent will get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.” He also loves to travel and have spent some memorable time in ASIA! To highlight some destinations, Peter has been to Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Equity & Inclusion
Sadee Brekke (They/She) is an artist and writer. She has an associate degree in liberal arts with a focus in psychology and sociology. She is passionate about mental health advocacy and representing marginalized communities. Sadee is the Visual Arts Editor for Sage Cigarettes Magazine and the author of Pupa: Growth & Metamorphosis (Alien Buddha Press) and Magic Lives In Girls (kith books).