Dear Willamette community,
I am pleased to announce that Jade Aguilar, Associate Professor of Sociology, has agreed to become Willamette University’s inaugural Vice President for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (VP EDI). Her official start date will be July 1.
As VP EDI, Jade will work with me, Sr VP Carol Long, the deans, faculty, students, and staff to advance Willamette’s commitments to be a more equitable and inclusive community. She will provide leadership in the planning, coordination, implementation, and assessment of Willamette’s educational, operational and strategic goals around equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Jade’s experience, teaching and research make her extraordinarily qualified to step into this new role, the creation of which was recommended by the President’s Task Force on Equity and Inclusion after a year-long review and engagement process.
Jade has been at Willamette since 2008. Her research is in the areas of gender, sexuality, and family, and her main focus is the study of intentional communities. She has presented training workshops and led discussions on diversity and equity issues including race, gender, sexual orientation, and ability. She has also served as a diversity advisor on faculty and administrative job searches, worked with the CLA Admissions office on improving underrepresented student recruitment and retention, and conducted grant-funded research on improving mentorship for junior faculty. She also served as co-chair of the equity and inclusion task force.
Jade will report to Carol Long and be a member of the senior leadership team. Her office will be located in the University Center within the Academic and Student Affairs offices.
I want to thank the members of the Willamette community who served on the task force and the committee that reviewed applicants for the position.
Jade will be a valuable resource for our entire campus community. Please offer her your support and join me in welcoming her to this new and important role.
Sincerely,
Steve
