Welcome Tanya Velasquez as Interim VC Equity & Inclusion

It is my pleasure to announce that Tanya Velasquez has agreed to serve as Interim Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion.

Tanya, who was recently promoted to full teaching professor, is a double-alumna of UW Tacoma, having received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in ethnic, gender and labor studies and interdisciplinary studies, respectively. She has served as the director of faculty engagement and racial equity initiatives with the Office of Equity & Inclusion and is the co-principal investigator on UW Tacoma's first Department of Education grant supporting Asian American, Pacific Islander and low-income students during their first year of college on our campus. She received a UW Distinguished Teaching Award in 2020.

Tanya’s commitment to this work through her teaching and service to our campus community will provide a solid basis for developing the services and programs of the Office of Equity & Inclusion while we search for a permanent Vice Chancellor. I will announce plans for that after the start of Autumn quarter.

Please join me in welcoming and supporting Tanya in this role.