Meet Erin Tofte, a seasoned diversity and equity trainer with over 10 years of experience supporting communities and organizations. Erin recently held the position of Associate Dean of Campus Life, Equity & Inclusion at Wenatchee Valley College. Her passion for equity and inclusion has been a driving force in both her education and professional career.

Erin holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, where she studied Law, Societies, and Justice, with a minor in Human Rights. During her time at UW, she even had the opportunity to study abroad in Chiapas, Mexico, exploring the Zapatista rebellion. Erin's commitment to making a difference led her to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nicaragua, Central America, for two and a half years. There, she worked on community organizations, agriculture, public health, and education before returning to the United States to pursue a law degree.

In 2011, Erin earned her Juris Doctorate from Willamette College of Law, specializing in International and Comparative Law. As part of her studies, she spent a semester in Quito, Ecuador, at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador. Erin's diverse heritage, consisting of Norwegian, Mexican, and Irish ancestry, has shaped her perspective, and she is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Following law school, Erin immersed herself in Central Oregon, where she led a health equity coalition and honed her skills as a diversity and equity trainer through her work with the Let's Talk Diversity Coalition. During this time, she successfully provided training on various diversity and equity topics to more than 400 individuals, covering areas such as health equity, racism, discrimination, privilege, and systemic oppression.

Throughout her eight-year tenure at Wenatchee Valley College, Erin has focused on implementing equity initiatives and providing training for students and staff. Her achievements include developing an equity and inclusion strategic plan, introducing a diversity requirement for graduation, conducting trainings on avoiding microaggressions in the classroom, and delivering statewide support trainings for undocumented students. Her areas of expertise revolve around health equity and fostering cultural competence within organizations.

Erin currently resides in Wenatchee with her energetic six-year-old daughter. Outside of her professional endeavors, she finds joy in spending as much time as possible in the great outdoors and playing sports. Additionally, Erin actively contributes to nonprofit organizations that align with her values, serving as a board member.