I am pleased to announce the kickoff of a national recruitment for our first Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — a role that will encompass serving as our Chief Diversity Officer — will partner with leadership campuswide to guide our inclusivity efforts, working proactively to build a more welcoming and equitable institution. The position will report directly to me and oversee our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Herbie Lee will chair the search committee. We have retained the executive search firm WittKieffer to assist us in this recruitment. Vice Provost Lee and members of the search firm will meet with faculty, staff and students in special stakeholder sessions this month to gather their thoughts on the qualifications necessary for a Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We aim to complete the search by the end of the academic year.
I am grateful to Judith Estrada who has served as the executive director of our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and as interim Chief Diversity Officer since July. She will continue to serve as the interim CDO until our new vice chancellor arrives on campus.
More information on the search can be found on the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion recruitment webpage. If you have specific questions not addressed on the site, please email Lauren Morgan, our Senior Leader Human Resources Manager, at llmorgan@ucsc.edu.
The Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a key position on our campus. I look forward to your participation and input in this important search.
