After a comprehensive national search, it is our distinct pleasure to announce the appointment of Tamara Cunningham as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Global Initiatives – effective Nov. 1, 2022.
Cunningham joins UC San Diego from New Jersey City University (NJCU), where she serves as the Associate Vice President for Global Initiatives. In this role, Cunningham successfully created an overarching international program at the university, facilitated the American Council on Education (ACE) Internationalization Lab to develop the institution's strategic internationalization plan, and led its implementation.
Cunningham has more than 20 years of higher education experience, highlighted by strategic partnership development in 17 countries, building capacity for student participation in study abroad programs – especially in the BIPOC community – proposal development to secure extramural funding for international activities, and demonstrated success partnering with advancement to secure funding in support of international students. Nationally, Cunningham serves as the co-lead for the ACE Subcommittee for the Community of Practice on Internationalization and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Cunningham has a master’s degree in Communications and Information Studies from Rutgers University, and is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Education with a concentration in higher education leadership from Saint Peter’s University, where she is examining underrepresented groups in study abroad programs.
As the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Global Initiatives, Cunningham will provide strategic leadership in advancing the university’s endeavors internationally through a Collective Impact model – including identifying and creating access for students to high-impact global learning opportunities, supporting faculty in pursuit of global research, and championing all students, scholars, staff and faculty as global changemakers with a deep commitment to the intersection of internationalization and diversity, equity and inclusion. She will also be responsible for coordinating and facilitating research/educational partnerships with international universities, governments, non-profit and non-governmental organizations at the institutional level by providing university-level vision and leadership for international initiatives across the campus.
We sincerely thank Revelle College Provost Paul Yu for providing outstanding leadership as the chair of the search committee, and wholeheartedly appreciate the members of the committee for their time, commitment, and insights throughout the search process.
Please join us in congratulating Ms. Cunningham on her appointment. We are excited for her to bring her breadth of professional experience to our UC San Diego community.
