Born in Denver and raised in Aurora, Dr. Tamara White has always had a deep connection to Colorado. Little did she know what significant role she would hold at the university that shaped her.
As a first-generation college student with limited access to resources, White hoped for the best. Following the lead of her close friends, Dr. White submitted three college applications. White applied to the University of Denver, MSU Denver and Spelman, choosing DU in the end. Being the first in her family to apply, attend and graduate from college was no easy feat, but the support of her family, most notably her father, made it all worth it.
Driven by a passion and love for learning from a young age, Dr. White knew her education would be her greatest resource.
“When I was in the third grade, I remember I was sick. I was home from school, and my dad was teaching me my multiplication tables. The way he was teaching me, encouraging me, almost playing, it was so fun to me. That was the first time I saw learning as fun. He made me feel really smart, like I could do anything, and that feeling is something I get from education,” said White.
Dr. White faced several challenges throughout her educational journey. She was a first-generation student and a woman of color on a predominantly white campus where the lack of diversity was isolating. These challenges didn’t deter White, rather, they motivated her to become more involved in her community and be a person others could relate to.
“I have a friend who was one of those students that was coming in as I was an orientation leader, and throughout his college experience, I was able to help, mentor and support [him]. When he graduated he came to me and said ‘thank you, I don’t think I would have survived DU without you being here.’ That means the world to me; that’s why I do this work to be able to serve students who are like me and help them be successful. That’s everything,” said White.
During her undergraduate journey at DU, Dr. White served as an orientation leader, mentor and residential assistant. She was also involved in the Black Student Alliance (BSA). White graduated from DU with a bachelor’s in finance and marketing in 1997. Two years later, she graduated with a master’s in science in student personnel. It would not be until 2020, however, that Dr. White would obtain her doctorate.
“My mentor told me that I could do [community involvement] for a living. I didn’t know that. I ended up getting a master’s in college student personnel and I loved it. I loved interacting with college students, college development, college student development and identity development. I just loved all of it…I got my master’s, and then I worked for quite a while. Then I decided to go back for my doctorate because I missed that community of learners,” said White.
After graduating with her master’s, White moved out of Colorado and worked at the University of Arizona, then North Central College in Illinois. She then moved back to Colorado, started her family and worked in the community college system for 15 years. Her roles included serving as the Vice President of Enrollment Services and Student Success at Front Range Community College and the Dean of Students at the Community College of Aurora. White also served as the Director of Admission and Access Policy for the Colorado Department of Higher Education where she revised state admissions standards policy and remedial education policy, and wrote the supplemental academic policy.
Similar to her undergraduate experience, Dr. White’s family’s unwavering support played a big role in her success. As part of DU’s first virtual graduating class, due to COVID-19, Dr. White received her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis on diversity in 2020. Shortly after, she ascended to her role in the Cultural Center.
White oversaw the rebuilding of the Cultural Center and led the creation of the Student Inclusion and Belonging (SIB) suite. The creation and formation of student support programs like First@DU and Social Justice Education were a priority for Dr. White. As the Associate Dean of Students for Student Affairs and Inclusive Excellence at DU, Dr. White reflects on how much has changed. She was once the only advocate for marginalized communities and is now one of many. She and Dr. Niki Latino work with the Dean of Student Team across DU to evaluate the ways the university can do better to support all students.
Her role at DU provides her with a “seat at the table,” as Dr. White put it—a big responsibility, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
From the time she was a student, to now being one of the biggest advocates for DEI on campus, Dr. White has seen significant change and progress. With her daughter embarking on her collegiate journey, it has provided her with a different perspective. When she was a student, White submitted a request for a black student floor. The request was promptly denied. Now, there is a student inclusion and belonging suite and an all-gender/gender-affirming floor.
In many ways, Dr. White’s journey at DU has been a full-circle moment. She is diligently working to make change at DU for the underrepresented and is providing leadership to create the spaces that she and many others did not have during their educational journeys. There is always work to be done, but the efforts of White and her colleagues reassure students with similar identities that there is a person on campus looking out for them.
“I hope that when [students] enter an institution—a college—that they know they belong. That they know they are valued. I hope that the work I have done creates spaces for them to feel whole. I hope they see that I have worked hard to create that for them,” said White.
