SUBJECT:

Appointment of Emily Roxworthy as Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Equity & Diversity

AVCs Mary Blair-Loy and Natalia Molina have announced that they will conclude their tenure as AVCs for Faculty Diversity and Equity on December 31, 2015.

Through their leadership my office initiated programs and policies to advance faculty diversity and equity in meaningful ways. As the first AVCs within the Vice Chancellor Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Mary Blair-Loy and Natalia Molina developed a mission and vision for faculty diversity and equity at UC San Diego. Together, they strengthened and standardized the divisional Faculty Equity Advisor (FEA) model providing training and guidance on faculty recruitment, retention, and advancement; developed data tools for unit heads to aide in tracking progress on faculty hiring and retention goals; successfully piloted and institutionalized the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity membership program, including the widely popular Faculty Success Program; designed and implemented the Faculty Excellence Award program; and led a task force to broaden and improve family accommodations for faculty. In addition to these initiatives, they created needed opportunities to engage underrepresented faculty groups, provided support in addressing faculty questions and concerns, and offered ongoing leadership, support, and training to divisional Faculty Equity Advisors.

Please join me in expressing sincere gratitude to both Professor Natalia Molina and Professor Mary Blair-Loy for their outstanding leadership and contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion. A campus-wide search for a full-time successor will commence in winter quarter. Until the appointment of a permanent full-time AVC, I have appointed Emily Roxworthy as interim.

Professor Roxworthy is a scholar working at the intersection of theatre history and performance studies, with particular interests in interculturalism, Asian/Asian American theatre, digital media, and role playing. She is also an affiliate faculty in the Department of Ethnic Studies and a member of the California Cultures in Comparatives Perspectives program at UCSD. At the urging of the UC Office of the President, Prof. Emily Roxworthy devised an interactive theatre piece, “Ready to Vote” to inspire department chairs and deans on all 10 campuses to work toward a more inclusive climate for diversity. “Ready to Vote?” is the centerpiece of the half-day leadership seminar, Fostering Inclusive Excellence: Strategies and Tools for Department Chairs and Deans, at all 10 UC campuses. Most recently, Dr. Roxworthy served as Acting Provost of Thurgood Marshall College in Fall 2015, following two years of lecturing for Marshall’s renowned DEI course “Dimensions of Culture.” Dr. Roxworthy will begin her appointment on January 1, 2016.

Becky Petitt Vice Chancellor – Equity, Diversity and Inclusion