Founders
Dr. Randal Ernst
Co-Founder
Dr. Randy Ernst is chair of the Nebraska Wesleyan University Education Department, working with future teachers on a daily basis. Prior to becoming a professor, he was the social studies curriculum specialist for the Lincoln Public Schools, and was one of six LPS cultural proficiency trainers working under the leadership of Thomas Christie. A psychology textbook author, Randy has written or edited numerous teacher’s guides, activity books, and has authored or co‐authored articles in The Oxford Review of Education, The American Psychologist and The Teaching of Psychology. Honors include the NAACP Dedication to Children Award, Civic Nebraska’s Outstanding Administrator Award, and The Leola Bullock Multicultural Award for innovative leadership and fostering multicultural understanding. In addition to facilitating workshops on cultural competency, Randy has helped lead workshops fostering well-being and resilience around the world, and believes well-being and cultural competency go hand-in-hand.
Dr. Dawn Mazzie
Co-Founder
Dr. Dawn Mazzie is an assessment and evaluation specialist for Lincoln Public Schools (LPS). Dawn has worked on the Cultural Proficiency Implementation Committee under the leadership of Thomas Christie as he navigated the district on its cultural proficiency journey. Dawn was also one of 6 trainers that led 2-day workshops organized to assist district administrators with their cultural proficiency journey to assist them in leading their staff. She served on the cultural proficiency steering committee for LPS for a number of years. Dawn was a member of Advocates Class VII with Leadership Lincoln and subsequently served on the Advocates Advisory Board helping with programming. Dawn served on the board for Nebraska Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Dawn serves on the YWCA-Lincoln finance committee. She is also the current president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Psi Chi Omega Chapter in Lincoln. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, is the oldest black greek letter organization for college-educated women.
Dr. Teresa Wanser-Ernst
Co-Founder
Dr. Teresa Wanser-Ernst is an assessment and evaluation specialist for the Lincoln Public Schools (LPS). Teresa is a founding member of the LPS Multicultural Advisory Committee and has served as a steering committee member since its inception. Her evaluation expertise focuses on programs that support historically marginalized student populations. Examples include the Family Literacy Program (English language classes for parents with young school-aged children), Community Learning Centers (before and after school expanded learning opportunities for low socio-economic status schools) and Learn to Dream (college tuition for students with low income). Teresa has evaluated grant programs totaling in excess of $20 million for teachers in schools on American Indian Reservation lands, Native American student progress, and immigrant literacy. She is also a Lincoln STEM Learning Ecosystem (LNKSE) Steering Committee member and part of the HopeLNK (suicide prevention) leadership team. A veteran, Teresa is a foster parent who adopted several of the children she fostered.