After a careful and extensive search, Chancellor Philip DiStefano officially announced that Dr. Sonia DeLuca Fernandez would become CU’s first Senior Vice Chancellor of diversity, equity and inclusion. 

In his July 6  announcement, Chancellor DiStefano said, “I am delighted to welcome Sonia DeLuca Fernández to this new leadership position in diversity, equity and inclusion. Sonia impressed me with her range of experience in the DEI space—from the publication of scholarly work to extensive experience in change management and building relationships internally and externally to support institutional change. I am excited to have her join my team and welcome her to CU Boulder.” 

As Senior Vice Chancellor of diversity, equity and inclusion, a position she will assume effective September 1, 2021, DeLuca Fernandez will provide strategic direction for campus-wide DEI initiatives and develop strategies for improving campus culture.

Further illustrating her upcoming role at CU, Chancellor DiStefano said, “Dr. DeLuca Fernández will become not only a key counselor to my leadership team, but a facilitator of our acceleration of critical DEI priorities emanating from the IDEA Plan and other campus actions that will move us forward.” 

Dr. Sonia DeLuca Fernandez, the Associate Vice Provost for Educational Equity at Pennsylvania State University, received her Ph.D from the University of Michigan, an M.A. in social foundations of education and a B.A. in African American Studies both from the University of Iowa. Before joining Pennsylvania State University, DeLuca Fernandez held positions at New York University, Rutgers University and the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul). 

“Each day I am inspired by incredible students and colleagues dedicated to the continual improvement of this special place. We are at an important juncture for the progression of justice and equity; and we need widespread participation to create a better future,” DeLuca Fernandez said about her work at Penn State. 

DeLuca Fernandez was chosen from a narrowed field of three candidates, selected by a search committee headed by Kathy Schultz, dean of the School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder. The search process also included faculty, staff and student virtual sessions held from May 17 to June 3, allowing for immense academia input in community meetings and access to the candidates chosen for the position. 

Alongside DeLuca Fernandez, candidates included Dr. Raechele Pope, an Associate Dean for Faculty and Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Buffalo Graduate School of Education, and Dr. Michelle Manno, an Assistant Vice Provost for Diversity Initiatives at the University of Illinois Chicago. 

“I look forward to joining Chancellor DiStefano’s leadership team. I was drawn by the authentic commitment of both the leadership and the community to cultural change and by the campus’s willingness to invest resources, imagination and energy into that change,” said DeLuca Fernandez about her hiring. “I am eager to join this effort and help the campus reach its goals.”