AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin will host three finalists for the position of vice president for diversity and community engagement on campus, and will provide students and members of the UT and Austin communities an opportunity to hear from the candidates and offer feedback to President Gregory L. Fenves.
The vice president for diversity and community engagement is one of the most significant leadership roles at The University of Texas, vital to the university’s efforts to foster an inclusive campus. A 13-member committee, chaired by Dean Luis Zayas of the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, has been advising President Fenves, who plans to appoint a new vice president to begin in the fall 2018 semester.
“We are in the midst of a thorough national search and are bringing three outstanding candidates to meet and learn about our campus, Austin and Texas. The input we receive from these visits will be essential to finding the right individual to lead UT’s diversity, inclusion and community engagement efforts into the future,” said Zayas.
The three finalists are:
Leonard Moore, The University of Texas at Austin – Friday, May 11
Leonard Moore served as UT’s senior associate vice president for diversity and community engagement from 2013 to 2017 and has served as interim vice president for diversity and community engagement since last summer. He is also the George Littlefield Professor of American History at UT. He earned a B.A. from Jackson State University, an M.A. from Cleveland State University and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. He was previously a history professor at Louisiana State University.
- Open student forum 11:30 a.m., Main Building, Room 212
- Open community forum 2:30 p.m., Main Building, Room 212
Elizabeth Ortiz, DePaul University – Tuesday, May 15
Elizabeth Ortiz has served as vice president of institutional diversity and equity at DePaul since 2002. She is also an adjunct faculty member there, teaching about multiculturalism. She earned a B.S. from Calumet College of St. Joseph, an M.S. from Northern Illinois University and an Ed.D. from Northern Illinois University. She previously worked at several other colleges and universities, including as executive director of affirmative action, diversity and employment relations at Northern Illinois University.
- Student and community forums are not yet set. More information will be posted here as it becomes available.
Patrick Sims, University of Wisconsin-Madison – Wednesday, May 16
Patrick Sims has served as vice provost and chief diversity officer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 2015 and served on an interim basis in that role from 2013 to 2015. He is also a professor of theatre and drama there. He earned a B.A. from Yale University in 1997, an MFA from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2000 and a certificate in management development from Harvard University in 2012. He was previously artistic director at the Human Experience Theatre at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
- Student and community forums are not yet set. More information will be posted here as it becomes available.
Those attending the forums may submit feedback at DDCEcomments@austin.utexas.edu.
