Appointment of Frank A. Silva as Associate Vice Chancellor Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

I am pleased to announce that after an extensive, national search, Frank A. Silva was appointed as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (AVC-EDI), effective June 1, 2022. In his role as AVC-EDI, his responsibilities will include strategic planning, advancing institutional effectiveness, serving as liaison to Human Resources, and leading diversity-focused community engagement and campus-wide initiatives. As a member of my leadership team, he will represent VC-EDI on high-level task forces, advisory groups, and system-wide work groups.

Mr. Silva has over 25 years of management experience and leadership in higher education, clinical, and community-based settings. He brings a proven record of success in launching campus-wide initiatives, building effective partnerships, program development, training and curriculum development, grant writing, operations and fiscal management, and advising to executive leadership.

Mr. Silva joined UC San Diego Health Sciences in 1997 serving in a number of teaching, administrative, and leadership roles before joining VC-EDI, in 2013, where he served as Chief of Staff for the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. As Chief of Staff he advised the Vice Chancellor on important and strategic topics and initiatives; oversaw our VC area finance, operations and facilities; provided EDI training and education; served as liaison to other campus units on high priority matters and committees; and served as co-chair for the Latinx/Chicanx Academic Excellence Initiative (LAEI) and Hispanic Serving Institution Task force and workgroup, among many other roles and responsibilities.

The success of the LAEI was made possible in large part to Mr. Silva’s committed leadership in organizing key campus and community stakeholders for collective impact, building a partnership with Univision Television and Radio, advancing parent engagement, and co-creating the virtual platform, Mi Universidad. In addition to these efforts, the LAEI workgroup produced recommendations for better serving the Latinx/ Chicanx population at UC San Diego as a major step toward achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

In 2022, in recognition of his steadfast advocacy and numerous contributions, Mr. Silva was awarded the César Chávez Celebration Committee Faculty/Staff Award for exemplary service to Latinx/ Chicanx students, staff, and faculty.

I am pleased to continue the work of our office with our colleague, Frank Silva, now as our Associate Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Join me in congratulating Frank on this new opportunity.

Becky R. Petitt
Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion