Steve Wehling selected as Augustana College civil rights director, chief Title IX coordinator

Augustana College announces the selection of Steve Wehling to serve as civil rights director and chief Title IX coordinator. Wehling, who will oversee the college's civil rights policies and lead initiatives to foster a more inclusive campus, joined the college Oct. 28.

Wehling brings nearly a decade of civil rights compliance and Title IX experience to Augustana, having previously served as equity investigator for the University of Iowa and equal employment opportunity associate for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Dr. Gauri Pitale, Augustana’s vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, said Wehling’s higher education experience and civil rights experience positions him to be a tremendous asset at Augustana.

"Steve's previous work in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion highlights his deep understanding of the critical connection between this role and our DEI efforts," said Dr. Pitale. "We are confident that his expertise will significantly contribute to fostering a more inclusive and compliant environment at Augustana College."

Wehling, a Quad Cities area resident, will ensure compliance of federal and state regulations and uphold Augustana’s community principles, which include purpose, respect and civic responsibility.

"It is a great privilege to join the Augustana College community,” said Wehling. “I am looking forward to serving Augustana students, staff and faculty in maintaining and enhancing an environment of mutual respect."

Wehling's responsibilities will include:

• Implementing and enforcing civil rights policies
• Conducting training sessions on Title IX and related topics
• Investigating and resolving complaints of discrimination and harassment
• Collaborating with campus partners to promote a culture of respect and inclusion

"Steve is joining a community of faculty, staff and students committed to growing and learning in a respectful and diverse community," said Sheri Curran, Augustana’s general counsel. "We're thrilled to have his expertise and to have him join us in continuing to build a welcoming and engaging campus for all."

Augustana’s fall enrollment included 2,557 students, including 24% domestic students of color and 20% international students. This includes newly enrolled and transfer students from 26 states and 33 countries. International students make up an unprecedented 25% of the Class of 2028, with the top represented countries being Ethiopia, Morocco, Nepal, Vietnam and Pakistan.

The college prioritizes maximizing student support and is dedicated to creating a thriving diverse campus community. Augustana has earned national recognition five times by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine's Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award.