The Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) at WestEd today announced that Rose Owens-West has been named Co-Director of the WEEAC. She will serve in this new role alongside current Co-Director Niki Sandoval. The WEEAC is one of four federally funded Equity Assistance Centers across the nation and U.S. territories that provide technical assistance and training—upon request from school districts, state education agencies, and others—to promote equity in student access to educational opportunities and resources.

Owens-West’s responsibilities as Co-Director will include providing leadership for the Center, maintaining communications with various state and federal agencies, ensuring the quality of technical assistance the Center provides, and providing ongoing support and development to WEEAC staff.

“I am honored to take on this leadership position with the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center and to further its mission to dismantle barriers to educational opportunities,” said Owens-West. “I look forward to collaborating with the WEEAC team to champion equity and create pathways that empower every student to reach their full potential.”

Owens-West is currently Strategic Advisor and Technical Assistance Facilitator for the WEEAC and Director for Equity Projects for the Region 15 Comprehensive Center serving AZ, CA, NV and UT. Owens-West also leads projects with state educational agencies, local education agencies, and county offices of education for WestEd’s Quality Schools and Districts team. From  2011 to 2016, she led the Region IX Equity Assistance Center.

“Dr. Owens-West blends an understanding of research, policy, and practice to challenge and redefine educational practices that promote equity and inclusion, “ said WestEd CEO Jannelle Kubinec. “From state houses to classrooms, Dr. Owens-West centers the needs of students and illuminates their experience as a means to motivate and focus attention to changes that resolve civil rights conflicts and promote educational equity.”

Owens-West earned her PhD from Stanford University, her master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana, and her BA from Rhodes College, Memphis, TN.

With the aim of bolstering educational equity, the WEEAC provides content expertise and deep knowledge of local contexts within its region, which includes Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. For more information, visit https://weeac.wested.org/.

The contents of this release were developed by the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC). The WEEAC is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal government.