University of California, Davis, Chancellor Gary S. May announced the next steps in the national search to fill the new position of vice chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with the formation of a recruitment advisory committee.

The newly formed committee, chaired by Kevin Johnson, dean of the UC Davis School of Law and professor of Chicana/o studies, comprises a cross-section of faculty, staff and students from a broad range of disciplines and backgrounds.

In announcing organizational changes to the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity in February, May praised the work done to foster programs that facilitate student success and recognized that the university must continue to increase the diversity of the campus community, stating, “This new position for diversity, equity and inclusion will allow us to engage more effectively with recruitment and retention of the best and brightest students, faculty and staff.”

Under Johnson’s leadership and with the assistance of Korn/Ferry International, a nationally recognized executive search firm, the committee is charged with identifying several highly qualified candidates for the chancellor’s consideration and selection as vice chancellor.

The new vice chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will be the leading senior executive responsible for providing an integrated vision on all major diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

“As our campus community becomes increasingly diverse, we have a duty, and a wonderful opportunity to embrace and foster that diversity; to remove barriers for historically underrepresented groups, improve cross-cultural relationships and contribute to a climate that is safe and welcoming regardless of who we are or where we come from,” May said. “I look forward to working closely with our new vice chancellor on meeting these goals.”

The new Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which the new vice chancellor will lead, will comprise four units: Campus Community Relations; Office of Academic Diversity; the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Davis Campus; and UC Davis Health’s Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. The office is currently led in an interim capacity by Rahim Reed, who has served as associate executive vice chancellor for Campus Community Relations since 2001.

The recruitment advisory committee is scheduled to meet on April 2 to begin their work in identifying the best applicants, with candidate reviews expected to take place later this summer.