Dear E&I colleagues,
We write to share with you that our longtime colleague Villy Somthida will be leaving the division for a position at the University of California Office of the President (UCOP). On January 25, 2021, she will start her role as executive assistant to the president of the University of California, Dr. Michael V. Drake. Villy will take her exceptional skills and expertise in DEIB, strategic planning, and project management as well as her invaluable political acumen, relationship building, and understated leadership to the Office of the President. We are so proud of Villy, yet, selfishly, we are saddened by her departure from the division.
Villy has served as the executive assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion since October 2007. She was one of the Immediate Office’s inaugural employees. Her dedication to and passion for this division’s work has shown through in countless ways, both seen and unseen. When called upon, she has undertaken additional projects and responsibilities with agility and humility and has left her mark on all aspects of our division and its work. Villy has helped navigate E&I through three VCEI leadership transitions and has been the bedrock of our office and for our staff providing continuity and deep institutional knowledge.
Villy has shared with us that the values we effectuate at E&I will remain at her core. It will be hard to imagine the next phase of our journey without her; however, we now have another friend at UCOP.
Please join us in thanking Villy for her dedication, loyalty, and many years of service to E&I and our campus and in wishing her all the best as she embarks on the next phase of her journey. Congratulations, Villy!
Best regards,
Oscar Dubón
Mia Settles-Tidwell