Felicia Case, director of intercultural programs, has resigned from her position at Taylor University.
Case has decided to leave Taylor to finish her Ph.D. in higher education from Azusa Pacific University, according to a campus press release sent out by the student development office on May 4.
Skip Trudeau, vice president for student development and associate professor of higher education, said that replacing Case would be a difficult task.
“Any time someone works here for as long as Felicia has, it’s hard to replace them,” Trudeau said. “We’re also at a standstill for hiring due to the recent coronavirus events.”
In 1995, Case started as the ethnic student recruiter in the admissions office, and has worked various roles in the university since then.
She has participated in university functions as a grad assistant, supervisor and various director positions.
“Felicia has held several roles in Student Development including Graduate Assistant to the Director of American Ethnic Programs, Director of American Ethnic Student Programs, Discipleship Supervisor, and for the last six years as the Director of OIP,” the press release said.
As her titles may suggest, Case has been involved in many, if not all, of the intercultural initiatives found at Taylor.
Many of these initiatives stem from the Office of Intercultural programs, the office of which Case was director before her resignation.
“In the past 20 years, Felicia has been very involved with intercultural initiatives,” Trudeau said. “Everything we’ve done with diversity initiatives has the Felicia fingerprint on them.”
These initiatives go beyond office work in the student development office.
According to the press release, Case has facilitated many programs during her tenure including the Act Six Scholars Program, multiple Civil Rights Trips, multiple student groups, Mosaic Night, and the current structure of the Office of Intercultural Programs (OIP).
In addition to holding several positions at the university, Case has also had a tremendous impact on individuals from the Taylor community.
Mark Soderquist, a member of the board of trustees, spoke very highly of Case, according to the press release.
“I first met Felicia almost 25 years ago,” Soderquist said in the press release. “A friendship began that continues today that challenges me in my understanding and experience of community, justice and the heart of the Gospel.”
“What stands out to me about her service first is her sacrificial love for our students,” Soderquist continued. “Secondly, is her willingness to teach and speak prophetically to Taylor and the broader Christian Higher Education community, concerning justice and race. Felicia has made an indelible and lasting imprint. Thank you, my friend, for your sacrificial love for and service to Taylor!”
