University of Colorado Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano named Sonia DeLuca Fern谩ndez senior vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), effective Sept. 1.
鈥淚 am delighted to welcome Sonia DeLuca Fern谩ndez to this new leadership position in diversity, equity and inclusion,鈥� DiStefano said. 鈥淪onia impressed me with her range of experience in the DEI space鈥攆rom the publication of scholarly work to extensive experience in change management and building relationships internally and externally to support institutional change. I am excited to have her join my team and welcome her to CU Boulder.鈥�
Sonia DeLuca Fern谩ndez
DeLuca Fern谩ndez currently serves as associate vice provost for educational equity at The Pennsylvania State University. She holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in African American studies and a master鈥檚 degree in social foundations of education, both from the University of Iowa. She received her doctorate in higher education from the University of Michigan.
鈥淚 look forward to joining Chancellor DiStefano鈥檚 leadership team,鈥� DeLuca Fern谩ndez said. 鈥淚 was drawn by the authentic commitment of both the leadership and the community to cultural change and by the campus鈥檚 willingness to invest resources, imagination and energy into that change. I am eager to join this effort and help the campus reach its goals.鈥�
As the senior vice chancellor for DEI, DeLuca Fern谩ndez will report directly to the chancellor, providing strategic direction for campuswide DEI initiatives and programs as well as strategies for improving the campus culture. As DeLuca Fern谩ndez onboards over the coming weeks, campus leaders will work collaboratively with key offices and stakeholders to review how the campus will work together with the senior vice chancellor in support of DEI.
鈥淪onia will help us coordinate and further align the vital work on DEI already in progress on campus and help us to envision and create new pathways to success for the large volume of work yet to be done,鈥� the chancellor said.
DiStefano thanked the work of the search committee, which听brought three 鈥溾�� to CU Boulder for the post.
鈥淚n particular, I鈥檓 grateful to Kathy Schultz, dean of the School of Education, for her thoughtful and dedicated work as chair of the search committee,鈥� DiStefano said.
The chancellor added that hearing the input of students, faculty and staff during community meetings earlier this year was critical to the search process and to the ongoing and vital DEI work that lies ahead for the campus community.
鈥淒r. DeLuca Fern谩ndez will become not only a key counselor to my leadership team, but a facilitator of our acceleration of critical DEI priorities emanating from the IDEA Plan and other campus actions that will move us forward,鈥� DiStefano said.
