Intergroup Dialogue (IGD)

Current Instructors

Dr. LaToya Hill

LaToya Hill, assistant dean of students at The University of Texas at Austin, oversees Student Emergency Services, which provides support to students in crisis and comprehensive referrals to resources on campus and in the Austin community. Dr. Hill also coordinates response to student deaths, and develops prevention and intervention strategies for student critical incidents. As a member of the Behavior Assessment and Critical Incident Response Teams, she has been instrumental in developing the university's multi-faceted strategic plan for crisis management and violence prevention. She has oversight of the Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL), a 24-hour phone service designed to provide support, advice and referrals to students, faculty and staff who have concerns about the behavior of another member of the campus community.

Dr. Hill earned her doctorate in Higher Education Administration at UT Austin and a master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from Texas Tech University. She is deeply committed to working with students from diverse backgrounds and enjoys "planting the seeds of social justice" as an Intergroup Dialogue instructor.

Office: The University of Texas at Austin
Student Services Building 4.400
Phone: 512-471-3065
Fax: 512-232-3963
Mailing Address: 1 University Station A5800
Austin, Texas 78712-0175

Adrienne MacKenzie

Adrienne MacKenzie is associate director of Student Activities in the Office of the Dean of Students at The University of Texas at Austin. Her primary role is to support and outreach to the over 1,000 registered student organizations in their efforts toward leadership development, risk management, and program planning. She also gives support to Student Activities staff members in providing services and programs that facilitate the development of student leaders on campus. While Adrienne is a graduate in psychology from the University of Michigan and received her M.A. in Education Leadership from Western Michigan University, she has become an enthusiastic Longhorn in over four years working at UT Austin. This is Adrienne's third year as a member of the Intergroup Dialogue team. She actively seeks opportunities to grow and expand her understanding of social justice issues, while supporting the growth and education of others.

Office: The University of Texas at Austin
Student Services Building 4.400
Phone: 512-471-3065
Fax: 512-232-3963
Mailing Address:
1 University Station A5800
Austin, Texas 78712-0175

Dr. Elizabeth G. Medina

Dr. Elizabeth G. Medina is assistant dean of students for Greek, Leadership and Intercultural Education in the Office of the Dean of Students at The University of Texas at Austin. She works with the rest of the Greek, Leadership and Intercultural Education staff to provide programs and services geared toward the sorority and fraternity community here on campus. She also assists area staff with providing office-wide diversity, social justice and social responsibility-related resources and services. In addition, Dr. Medina is a faculty member in the Educational Psychology Department and serves as a co-instructor for courses on Greek Leadership Issues and Intergroup Dialogue. Through these and other efforts, she works to support and assist students, encourage leadership development and promote diversity awareness.

Office: The University of Texas at Austin
Student Services Building 4.400
Phone: 512-471-9700
Fax: 512-232-3963
Mailing Address:
1 University Station A5800
Austin, Texas 78712-0175

Dr. Smita S. Ruzicka

Dr. Smita S. Ruzicka is the associate director of Greek, Leadership and Intercultural Education in the Office of the Dean of Students at The University of Texas at Austin. Her primary role is to coordinate intercultural education for the Office of the Dean of Students and assist with planning programs and initiatives related to multicultural, diversity, social justice and social responsibility issues. She also provides support to the Greek, Leadership and Intercultural Education staff through programs and services geared toward UT Austin's sorority and fraternity community. Smita is a member of the Intergroup Dialogue team and assists with the coordination of the program. Smita is a Licensed Professional counselor (LPC) and a certified supervisor for counseling interns. Dr. Ruzicka is a faculty member in the Department of Educational Psychology as well as the Department of Education Administration and serves as an instructor for both undergraduate and graduate level Intergroup Dialogue classes. Dr. Ruzicka supports and works closely with communities of color, both on campus and in the Austin area, and strives to be an ally and supporter of LGBTQ communities.

Office: The University of Texas at Austin
Student Services Building 4.400
Phone: 512-471-9700
Fax: 512-232-3963
Mailing Address:
1 University Station A5800
Austin, Texas 78712-0175

Past Instructors

Dr. Margarita Arellano

Dr. Margarita Arellano was senior associate dean of students at The University of Texas at Austin until 2009, and is now dean of students at Texas State University. Her tenure at UT Austin was characterized by a dedication to students and to professional excellence. Her portfolio included New Student Services, Student Activities, Greek, Leadership and Intercultural Education and Program Safety Education Services, and she was also a faculty member in the Educational Psychology Department. Dr. Arellano has been recognized by faculty, student affairs professionals and by students for her commitment to improving the university experience. Some of these accolades include: the Eyes of Texas Award for excellence in service to students and to The University of Texas at Austin; the UT Parents' Association Staff Merit Award for exceptional service to students; and the Educator of the Year Award given by INROADS for her strong commitment to the mission of education.

Office: The University of Texas at Austin
Student Services Building 4.104
Phone: 512-471-5017
Fax: 512-471-7833
Mailing Address:
1 University Station A5800
Austin, Texas 78712-0175

Kyle Clark

Kyle Clark is a student affairs administrator in the Office of the Dean of Students at The University of Texas at Austin, where he primarily works with orientation programs for new first-year and transfer students. Mr. Clark is also an instructor in the Department of Educational Psychology, where he is part of a teaching team for Intergroup Dialogue courses. He received his Bachelor's degree in psychology from Oklahoma State University and his Master's degree in higher education administration here at The University of Texas at Austin. Kyle advises two student organizations on campus and lends his support for communities of color throughout the university.

Office: The University of Texas at Austin
Student Services Building 4.104
Phone: 512-232-2838
Fax: 512-471-7833
Mailing Address:
1 University Station A5800
Austin, Texas 78712-0175

Yvonne Fuentes

Yvonne Fuentes is director of Community Engagement Programs for the Volunteer and Service Learning Center in the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. Yvonne came to The University of Texas at Austin in 1998 and has worked for the Red McCombs School of Business and the Multicultural Engagement Center. Currently, she advises the Student Volunteer Board and the UT Service Scholars Program, and works closely with communities of color on campus and in the greater Austin community. Yvonne served as a member of the Intergroup Dialogue team from 2006 to 2008. She received a Bachelor's degree in psychology from The University of Texas at El Paso and a Master's degree in higher education administration from The University of Texas at Austin.

Office: The University of Texas at Austin
Student Services Building 4.104
Phone: 512-232-4856
Fax: 512-232-3963
Mailing Address:
1 University Station A5800
Austin, Texas 78712-0175

Ana Ixchel Rosal

Ana Ixchel Rosal currently serves as Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center at UT Austin. She has over 12 years of experience planning, implementing and managing community-based cultural programs. She is also a diversity trainer, with experience conducting workshops on the elimination of racism, sexism, homophobia, and class-based oppression. A graduate of UC Berkeley, Rosal also received a Master's degree from UT Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Office: The University of Texas at Austin
Student Services Building 4.104
Phone: 512-232-4680
Fax: 512-471-7833
Mailing Address:
1 University Station A5800
Austin, Texas 78712-0175

Jason Sick

Jason Sick was a coordinator in New Student Services in the Office of the Dean of Students at The University of Texas at Austin. He worked primarily with new student orientation programs for incoming first-year and transfer students and their family members. He received his Bachelor's degree in marketing from The University of Texas at Austin, as well as his Master's degree in higher education administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. Jason served as co-chair of the Diversity Initiative Committee in the Office of the Dean of Students. In addition, Jason served as a mentor for the Gender and Sexuality Center and was chair of the Pride and Equality Faculty Staff Association.

Shane Whalley

Shane Whalley is education coordinator for the Gender and Sexuality Center in the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. Ze facilitates workshops for students, faculty and staff on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, as well as on sexism, and on the concepts of power, privilege and oppression. This year ze started "Peers for Pride," a peer facilitation program where students are trained to facilitate workshops on LGBT issues. Shane is also a member of the Intergroup Dialogue teaching team. Ze received hir Masters degree in Social Work at UT and is a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW). Shane has been an Adjunct Faculty member at the School of Social Work since 2003, and has taught "Foundations of Social Justice," "Theories and Methods of Group Intervention" and "Gays and Lesbians in American Society." Shane has worked as a psychotherapist for several non-profits in Austin, working mostly with LGBT clients. Shane has a passion for making space for people to explore gender and sexuality.