SBCTC Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Team Members

Meet our team!

MarcusAntonio Gunn (he/she|him/her|his/hers) 
Interim Director

MarcusAntonio is a dedicated advocate for racial, social, and economic justice, particularly in education. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s belief in the power of human action to bend the arc of the moral universe, MarcusAntonio is committed to dismantling systemic racism and bias in higher education. MarcusAntonio is committed to building a culture of equity that impresses upon those around him to support equity and justice in every facet of society.

A proud Black, queer, and gender-expressive individual, MarcusAntonio is a husband, father, and passionate advocate for equity and justice. They are the first male identifying member of their family to receive a high school diploma and is the first member of their family to attend post-secondary education. MarcusAntonio’s academic journey includes a B.A. in Political Science, B.S. in Special Education, a M.S. in Adult Learning, and a current pursuit of an EdD in Higher Education Administration-Adult Learning.

As a first-generation college student, MarcusAntonio understands firsthand the transformative power of education. He has dedicated his career to empowering historically disadvantaged communities and individuals, particularly Black American males. His work focuses on changing policies, procedures, and mindsets to bridge educational, wage, and career gaps. MarcusAntonio’s work includes consulting and developing professional and leadership development opportunities for faculty, staff and administrators centering on anti-racist awareness, white-supremacy culture in higher education, culturally responsive curriculum design and execution, conflict management and resolution, organization culture creation, equity, and justice.

Currently serving as the Interim Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the SBCTC, MarcusAntonio previously held the role of Policy Associate of EDI and Barrier Mitigation. Beyond his professional roles, he is an active community member, serving as Chair of the Tacoma Board of Ethics.

When not immersed in his work, MarcusAntonio enjoys spending time with his family, exploring the world of African fantasy and historical fiction through audiobooks, and indulging in his passion for music, particularly opera, classical, and jazz in which he is professionally trained vocalist.

Melissa Williams (she/her)
Policy Associate

Melissa is a Pacific Northwest native from the Portland/Vancouver area, the traditional territories of the Multnomah, Cowlitz, and Chinook peoples. She is Black-White biracial. Her mother’s family of educators and engineers hails from New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Her father’s family is rooted in Texas where they were enslaved and then forged lives as sharecroppers and farmers after emancipation.

Melissa earned an A.A. from Clark College, a B.A. in History from the University of Washington, and an M.A. in Public History from Washington State University with a concentration in African American and social history. She is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Portland State University. Melissa’s professional journey in higher education began in 2005; she has held several student services positions. Before joining the State Board, she served as Director of Student Equity and Inclusion at Clark College.

Outside of work, Melissa is often invited to provide diversity, equity, and inclusion training for institutions, organizations, churches, and businesses. Additionally, her passion for history inspires her to participate in local history projects and to speak to various audiences about Vancouver, Washington's Black history.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, engaging in progressive political action, road trips, camping, podcasts, and watching rugby.

Courtnay Llacuna (she/her)
Administrative Assistant

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Courtnay is a graduate of Saint Martin's University with degrees in Psychology and Sociology. 

Courtnay began her career in 2018 working for Shoreline Community College as a Program Assistant. She then found her passion when she became the AANAPISI program coordinator serving the API community, attending seminars, and creating programs with her program director for the API students and community members. She was at Shoreline for four years before coming to SBCTC.

Courtnay’s hobbies include tennis, piano, and spending time with her energetic Border Collie named Kaia. Additionally, she is dedicated to helping API communities by going back to Hawaii every year to volunteer and assist in opportunities for various organizations, churches, and businesses.