Diane Cornelius Charles, J.D.
Director, ADA and Section 504 Coordinator, and Deputy Title IX Coordinator
diane.charles@yale.edu
203.432.1377
(she/her)
Diane Cornelius Charles is the Director for the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility. She joined Yale University as the Associate Director for the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility in July 2021. As Director, Diane oversees the University’s response to discrimination and harassment, the facilitation of the ADA accommodations process for faculty and other academic employees, and Yale’s sexual harassment prevention training for faculty and staff. She also serves as the ADA and Section 504 Coordinator and Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Faculty and Staff.
Before joining Yale, Diane was the Director of Title IX Compliance, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Bridgeport. She served as Special Assistant to the President on Diversity and Inclusion and taught as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Bridgeport, Ernest C. Trefz School of Business. Diane worked for twelve years as a Litigation Staff Attorney with an international law firm in New York City and in labor and employee relations in the private and public sectors, before transitioning to higher education.
Diane received her B.A. in Political Economy from Skidmore College and her J.D. from Hofstra Law School.
Alexa Lindauer, J.D.
Deputy Director and Deputy Title IX Coordinator
alexa.lindauer@yale.edu
203.432.0569
(she/her)
Alexa Lindauer joined the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility in May 2022. In her role, Alexa assists with the management of OIEA’s response to concerns of discrimination and harassment involving University faculty and staff. She also works with Yale faculty, staff, and applicants in need of workplace accommodations due to their medical conditions or their religious beliefs.
Prior to joining OIEA, Alexa worked in the Office of Institutional Equity at the University of Connecticut for five years, most recently as the Associate Director of Investigations. OIE addressed concerns of discrimination or harassment at all University of Connecticut campuses. In her role, Alexa helped to oversee the case investigations team and OIE’s operations at UConn Health. She provided training to the University community and was involved in many campus collaborations, committees and working groups, including the University’s Age Act Committee, a campus climate working group, and a working group charged with developing, implementing, and training on procedures for addressing problematic behavior from patients. Prior to her work in the higher education setting, Alexa was an attorney in private practice for six years, focusing on employment discrimination.
Alexa has her bachelor’s degree in Government from Colby College and her juris doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
Jamaal Thomas, J.D.
Associate Director, Deputy ADA and Section 504 Coordinator, and Deputy Title IX Coordinator
jamaal.thomas@yale.edu
203.432.0852
(he/him)
Jamaal Thomas joined the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility in April 2014. In his role, he addresses concerns of discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment based on protected characteristics. Jamaal also manages an active caseload of Yale faculty, staff, and applicants who require an accommodation due to their medical condition or need to practice their religious beliefs.
Prior to joining Yale, Jamaal was General Counsel for CASES, a non-profit located in New York City, and a non-profit development professional.
Jamaal is active in civic efforts. He serves as the Chair of the Board of the Youth Justice Network in New York City and Co-Chair of the Board of Leila Day Nursery in New Haven. He also leads the Yale African American Affinity Group’s Men’s Health Initiative, which is focused on empowering people from the Black and Latinx communities in the Greater New Haven area with health education.
Jamaal has a bachelor’s in Political Science from SUNY Purchase and his juris doctorate is from St. John’s University.
Angelica Matos Jennings, J.D.
Associate Director and Deputy Title IX Coordinator
angelica.jennings@yale.edu
203.436.1541
(she/her/ella)
Bringing over a decade of higher education experience, Angelica Matos Jennings joined OIEA in November 2022. Prior to OIEA, Angelica served as Conduct Residence Hall Director at the University of Connecticut; a Community Director at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH); and a Graduate Assistant at Lehigh University.
During her time in higher education, Angelica served on several campus-wide committees and working groups in areas of student affairs; Title IX; diversity and inclusion; climate assessments; conduct hearing adjudications; restorative justice; and employee retention and search processes. Angelica also served as the co-founder for UNC-CH’s Women of Worth Initiative and was an adjunct professor of Legal Issues and Decision-Making in Higher Education and Student Affairs at UConn. Angelica has also interned at the U.S. District Attorney’s Office, UConn’s Office of Institutional Equity, and Tolland Superior Court.
A New Yorker, Angelica received her B.A. in Political Science and Global Studies and her M.A.in Political Science from Lehigh University. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education from North Carolina State University, and a Juris Doctorate with a Graduate Certificate in International Human Rights Law from the University of Connecticut’s School of Law. Beginning in Fall 2025, she will begin a doctoral program in Educational Leadership at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education. She is also a proud member of Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Incorporated.
Raquel McDowell, J.D.
Associate Director of Title IX and OIEA
raquel.mcdowell@yale.edu
475.375.6791
(she/her/hers)
Raquel McDowell joined Yale in October 2024 as the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Yale College and was appointed the inaugural Associate Director of Title IX and OIEA in April 2025. In her role within OIEA, Raquel is responsible for addressing concerns of discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment based on protected characteristics. In her Title IX role, Raquel responds to concerns and inquiries of sexual misconduct raised by members of the graduate and professional school community by providing supportive measures and other accommodations.
Before joining Yale, Raquel served as Assistant Dean of Students and Title IX Investigator at the University of Miami for five years. Her other roles in higher education include Title IX and EEO Specialist at Florida International University and Faculty Assistant at Duke University School of Law. She also practiced as an employment law attorney in the private sector.
A South Florida native, Raquel holds a B.S. in Communications from the University of Central Florida and her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law. She is a proud active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Jonathan Bailey
Equity and Accessibility Support Specialist
jonathan.bailey@yale.edu
203.432.0849
(he/him)
Jonathan Bailey has been employed with the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility since 2015 and serves as the department’s Support Specialist. Jonathan is responsible for providing a wide range of technical and administrative supports for office staff, university employees, and students. Prior to his current role, Jonathan was employed as a Research Assistant at the Yale School of Public Health and is pursuing a degree in Social Work at Springfield College. Jonathan is also a professional photographer and maintains a commercial studio in New Haven, Connecticut.