Dear Campus Community,
The beginning of a new academic year is always an exciting time, and this one is particularly special for me. Like our new first-year and transfer students, sophomores, and those who transferred to UC Berkeley last year, I too, am new to the campus. My tenure as the vice chancellor for equity & inclusion started just three weeks ago.
Protests against police brutality following the murder of George Floyd last summer have accelerated public dialogue around police reform in America and caused some police departments across the country to rethink the way they serve their communities.
Dear Campus Community,
We are thrilled to announce that following a national search, Dania Matos has agreed to serve as vice chancellor for equity and inclusion. This appointment is effective August 16, 2021.
Dania joins us from UC Merced where she has served as the inaugural associate chancellor and chief diversity officer since 2019. Before joining Merced she served as the inaugural deputy chief diversity officer at William & Mary.
Dear E&I colleagues,
Today is my final day in the role of VCEI. I am truly grateful and honored to have worked with you for the past four years to serve the campus community. There is no greater honor or reward than serving others. And there has been no greater privilege for me than leading the Division of Equity & Inclusion. I am in awe of your commitment to serving the campus community on a constant basis, often under the most challenging of circumstances.
Dear Colleagues,
I have the pleasure of sharing with you the wonderful news that earlier this morning UC President Drake announced that Juneteenth is now an official UC holiday, to be observed this year on Monday, June 28:
“Yesterday President Biden declared a federal holiday for Juneteenth, the day that celebrates and commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. This is a historic moment for our nation - 156 years in the making.
Dear Colleagues,
June is recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride Month where we recognize the historical and current contributions of LGBTQ+ people and communities. Pride is many things. It is a celebration of queer and trans identities, histories, cultures, and communities. It is about the promotion of social justice movements and civil rights victories. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the many ways that LGBTQ+ communities have helped shift the larger culture to be more open and inclusive.