Jesse Villalobos started recently as the new director of equity and diversity for the College of Education and Human Development. In this new position he plans to support and develop efforts across the college toward making CEHD a recognized leader for equity in higher education.
“I look forward to meeting with individuals and groups throughout CEHD as I learn about existing programs and hear ideas for ways we can improve how we do diversity and equity,” said Villalobos. “In the meantime, I hope any member of the college community will feel free to contact me and offer observations and suggestions as we begin to determine interim priorities. I’m equally eager to hear from students, staff, faculty, and community.”
Equity and diversity are central to the college’s mission, said Villalobos. “And part of what I hope to accomplish, in collaboration with the CEHD leadership team, is to promote more frequent and deeper engagement with the college community to build upon what’s working while addressing the barriers to our success.”
Villalobos was previously at The New School in New York, where he was director of university social justice initiatives in the provost’s office. He has also served as coordinator of diversity initiatives at Parsons The New School for Design and as regional director for programs and public policy in the Iowa Region for the National Conference for Community and Justice. He earned his master’s degree in media studies from The New School and his bachelor’s in social work from the University of Iowa.
Contact Jesse Villalobos at jvillalo@umn.edu.