Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Ministries
Although campus ministry provides a variety of opportunities for all Whitworth students to take steps closer to Jesus, students have special opportunities to build relational bridges and grow spiritually through Whitworth's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Ministries:
Meet the Staff
Lesly Acevedo, Assistant Chaplain for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Ministries
Lesly Acevedo is passionate about the gospel of Christ and is dedicated to training new generations to foster a closer relationship with their Creator. Recently, she joined the campus ministry staff at Whitworth University where she leads a life group that has been a great blessing. With a bachelor's degree in theology from Latin America Theological Seminary, she is an ordained minister of the Church of God of Prophecy in Washington state. She spent many years serving at Canoga Park Presbyterian Church in California, where she met her husband, Pastor Álvaro Gómez. Together, they founded the Christian Church of Fillmore and later established Comunidad Cristiana de Spokane, a Hispanic ministry. Lesly enjoys spending her free time with her family, going on walks and caring for her plants. Her favorite scripture is Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Amen."
Sitara Busby, Graduate Assistant Ministry Intern
Sitara Busby was born in India and grew up in Edmonds, Wash. She is excited to serve as the graduate assistant ministry intern (GAMI) for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Ministries. During her time as an undergraduate student at Whitworth, Sitara was involved in various campus ministry programs, multicultural clubs, as well as studying abroad. She loves learning about people from different backgrounds, which led her to study sociology for her undergraduate degree. Along with being a GAMI, Sitara is also a student in the Whitworth MBA program and says she feels privileged to be working for Source Spokane.
A favorite verse of Sitara's is from Psalms 139:13-14: "For you created my inner being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." She is assured that God has a plan for each and every one of us. Sitara's goal as a GAMI for DEI ministries is to spread that message and help cultivate a place of belonging and growth for all.
Please feel free to reach out to Sitara; she would love to get to know you! You can find her in the chapel or the Intercultural Student Center (ISC). Otherwise, please email her at sbusby24@my.whitworth.edu.
Biblical Justice Coordinator
We believe that God was the first one to care about things being right in the world ("justice") and that followers of Jesus are naturally invited to care about the things that God cares about as we follow him. The Biblical justice coordinator works to help our campus ministry community do just that; put our faith in Jesus into action, doing things that God cares about.
Community Fellowship Coordinators
Inspired by the picture in Revelation 7:9-10 of the people of God from every tongue and tribe and language and people gathered in worship around the throne of God and the Lamb, the community fellowship coordinators seek to build community across racial-ethnic difference and specifically promote opportunities for our students of color and international students to have opportunities to grow with Jesus and in Christian community here at Whitworth.
Pictured left to right: Hala Najjar, biblical justice coordinator; Charis Tiamson and Rosalie Boole, community fellowship coordinators