Faculty Affairs and Academic Programs
Transforming UC San Diego from an emerging HSI to an HSRI through a LatinX cluster hire initiative
UC San Diego, 2021-2022
Project Principal Investigators
Luis Alvarez, Professor, History, Associate Dean of Arts & Humanities
John Blanco, Director of Latin American Studies program
Robert Castro, Professor of Theatre & Dance & Director, Chicanx & Latinx Studies (CLS)
Frances Contreras, Professor of Education Studies and Associate Vice Chancellor (EDI)
Luis Martin Cabrera, Associate Professor of Latin American Studies
Daphne Taylor Garcia, Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies
MarDestinee Perez, Director, Center for Faculty Diversity & Inclusion
Project Abstract
The UC San Diego Latinx Cluster Hire Initiative (LCHI) leverages a strong campus commitment to diversifying the faculty while simultaneously working to fulfill its student-centered mission. As an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, UC San Diego is uniquely positioned to transform into an HSRI and STEM HSI with the support of leadership and commitment to meeting the curricular, co-curricular, and cultural needs of Latinx, URM and increasingly first-generation students. The LCHI proposes to hire up to fourteen faculty whose research and pedagogical focus on issues affecting and of interest to Chicanx/Latinx students. Moreover, it would leverage the Chicanx/Latinx Studies and Latin American Studies programs, strong EDI initiatives underway and the expertise of campus Faculty Equity Advisors. A robust hiring initiative across four divisions and nine academic departments that serve a critical mass of Latinx students will serve as a catalyst for UC San Diego becoming a Latinx serving and responsive institution.