Crasha Townsend, Ph.D

Dr. Crasha Townsend has dedicated more than 16 years to a career in higher education, specifically focused on social justice and leadership development. She served as a consultant in higher education and small business development. She has worked to foster large-scale diversity initiatives and provided community outreach at both private and public institutions, such as the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Radford University, and Washington and Lee University. She has successfully implemented an intergroup dialogue living-learning community, developed a peer-based multicultural advocacy curriculum and program, and facilitated diversity education for campus and the greater community. She has provided dynamic leadership in rebuilding and branding diversity initiatives on campus as she oversaw a portfolio that included student leadership, Greek life, diversity and inclusion, student clubs and organizations, and Student Media.

Townsend has held national roles in student affairs with her work within the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), an international organization rooted in research and practice. She is the co-director and founder of the Ujima Institute for professional development of African American administrators in higher education that is hosted through NASPA.

Townsend served two terms as the national chair for the African American Knowledge Community. She also is a faculty member for African American Women’s Summit and has served NASPA on the Multicultural Institute planning committee, NASPA Undergraduate Fellowship Program national and regional boards, and with the Division for Equity and Inclusion.

Townsend brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and energy in promoting social justice and leadership development throughout higher education and within her local community. Her undergraduate work in integrated public relations at Central Michigan University, her masters in higher education administration with an emphasis on college student affairs leadership from Grand Valley State University, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Northwest Nazarene University have served as a strong foundation. She is involved in several community agencies that allow her to pursue her passion of service. She is a member of the Junior League and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.