June 26, 2019

Appointment of Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

A central keystone of the UCI experience and culture is our steadfast commitment to inclusive excellence. In order to advance our efforts to create a diverse, inclusive and welcoming environment for all students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members both across campus and throughout our health enterprise, we have established the new position of vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion. I have appointed Professor Douglas M. Haynes to serve in this senior leadership role, reporting directly to me.

We have a compelling interest in fostering diverse communities of inquiry. Diversity of experience and thought is an essential precondition for productive deliberation and a robust exchange of ideas. But more than that, when we ensure the access and inclusion of people of all backgrounds and life experiences, we not only uphold our fundamental scholarly and research mission, we also make meaningful our shared commitment to a true opportunity society. As an institution created by the people in order to serve the people, we know that the more we resemble the remarkable diversity of our state and our nation, the stronger we will be.

Vice Chancellor Haynes has most recently served as vice provost for academic equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as director of the UCI ADVANCE program. He was formerly director of the UCI Center for Medical Humanities. He has led our efforts to confront extremism; generated academic programming on bias, prejudice and bigotry; and helped UCI twice become a federally recognized minority-serving institution.

In his new and expanded position, Vice Chancellor Haynes will provide universitywide leadership in realizing the full potential of current and future programs as we build a community where all expect equity, support diversity, practice inclusion and honor free speech through intention, communication, cooperation and collaboration. Our goal is to be a national leader and global model of inclusive excellence.

I am grateful to the search committee and its chair, Dean Gregory Washington, for their hard work and diligence.

Please join me in congratulating Vice Chancellor Haynes as he takes up his new role at UCI.

Chancellor Howard Gillman