To bolster the university’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi has expanded the role of Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Adela de la Torre to include oversight of all diversity efforts for the campus.

de la Torre

“Establishing this new position, with Vice Chancellor de la Torre’s long record of devotion to students and diversity issues, is the most effective way for the university to build and improve upon the strong work that’s been done on diversity at UC Davis over the years,’ Katehi said this week in announcing the move.

In a presentation to the UC Board of Regents, which voted to authorize the new position at the board’s last meeting in July, Katehi said de la Torre assumes full responsibility as the campus official responsible for ensuring that diversity goals among UC Davis staff, faculty and graduate and undergraduate students are implemented. Her new title is vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity.

“UC Davis has long been in the forefront as a campus leader on diversity issues,” Katehi said. “These efforts began before I came to campus and real progress has been made. But there is much more work to do. With this expanded position, we now have a single senior UC Davis leader charged with developing appropriate policies, procedures, programs and initiatives for all students, staff and faculty.

“My commitment is to make sure that UC Davis is known for its welcoming and inclusive environment and its respect and appreciation for diversity and inclusion across the board.”

Katehi also noted that the campus had explored creating an all-new position of vice chancellor for Campus Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with its own office and staff, as several other campuses have done. But after considering the alternatives, she decided it would be most effective to add the responsibilities to de la Torre’s portfolio in Student Affairs.

Before de la Torre’s expanded position was created, oversight of diversity efforts had been spread throughout the university. On the Davis campus, Rahim Reed, associate executive vice chancellor for Campus Community Relations, reports directly to Chancellor Katehi and has overseen the Diversity Education Program, the Campus Community Book Project and other efforts, including the campus’s successful participation in the UC Campus Climate Survey in 2013. The UC Davis Health System has had its own associate vice chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion, David Acosta, who reports directly to the vice chancellor for Health Sciences. 

In addition, various faculty and staff also have worked on diversity programs; everyone in these roles will now coordinate their efforts through Vice Chancellor de la Torre without changing their direct reporting relations. Katehi said coordination of diversity efforts throughout UC Davis will be critical in achieving campuswide goals.

“This work is too important to be organized in a scattered manner,” Katehi said. “With one vice chancellor at the top of the organizational chart, it gives us the best chance to take all the good work happening across the university and make it even stronger and more effective.”

Chancellor Katehi sees the timing behind the newly elevated position as particularly critical. In August 2014, she created the Strategic Planning Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, chaired by Suad Joseph, distinguished professor and faculty adviser to the chancellor. Comprising a broad cross-section of campus stakeholders, the committee is charged with engaging the UC Davis community in crafting a comprehensive diversity/inclusion strategy and implementation plan for the university by June 2016.

It will be de la Torre’s responsibility to ensure timely implementation of the completed plan. Both she and Katehi have said the university will put adequate resources behind the plan to help it succeed.

“I am excited and honored to add these responsibilities to my work at UC Davis,” de la Torre said. “I’ve worked on diversity and inclusion issues for my entire academic career and I think it makes perfect sense for Student Affairs to be the home for this new position. Many of the concerns and issues we work on regarding diversity often have the most impact on our students. This is going to require a lot of hard work and attention, but it is crucial for the university. I feel very fortunate that we have such a solid foundation to build on.”

De la Torre, an agricultural and health economist, has a doctorate in agricultural and resource economics from UC Berkeley. She joined the UC Davis faculty in 2002. She is a former chair of the Department of Chicana/o Studies at UC Davis and continues as the director of the university’s Center for Transnational Health. 

She was named interim vice chancellor by Katehi in August 2012 and was appointed to the position on a permanent basis a year later following a national search.

Under her leadership, Student Affairs has taken a number of important steps to strengthen diversity and inclusion at UC Davis, including:

• Establishing the UC Davis Mexico Initiative
• Creating African American, Native American and Chicano/Latino retention initiatives
• Establishing the AB540 and Undocumented Student Center
• Expanding services for students with disabilities
• Expanding services to international students
• Publishing the first Middle Eastern and South Asian Community Resource guide
• Partnering with the School of Education to offer a new course, “Understanding Educational Equity”
• Piloting the Veterans Success class to address the issues and challenges veterans face in transitioning from military to civilian life
• Creating retention strategies and tips for success for students of underrepresented genders in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields
• Improving services for the LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual) community

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