After a national search for potential candidates, Michael Benitez Jr. will be appointed to serve as the Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at Puget Sound. This position will provide Benitez with the responsibility of organizing and strategizing Puget Sound’s Plan for Diversity in order to create the most inclusive learning environment possible for the University’s students.
“This includes overseeing access and achievement programs, monitoring and evaluating the campus environment, developing new resources, and collaborating with campus leadership, faculty, and students to advance the college’s diversity goals,” the University’s press release states.
The position, formerly Chief Diversity officer, was instituted in 2007 and was previously held by Dr. Kim Bobby. In July 2012, Bobby became the director of the Inclusive Excellence Group, serving on the American Council on Education.
Besides the change in the position’s name, the concentration will hone in on specifics within the diversity program.
“Now this position is going to focus primarily on internal and external community engagement of diversity,” Abigail Taitano, the Access Programs Coordinator, said.
Benitez has been chosen by a search advisory committee following a national search for a candidate able to provide the University with the vision and motivation necessary to continue making Puget Sound a culturally and educationally diverse learning environment.
Currently Benitez is the director of the Office of Intercultural Engagement and Leadership at Grinnell College in Iowa, where he and his department assist students of varied cultural backgrounds to thrive in an academic environment.
Previously, he has worked as the director of the Office of Intercultural Development at Lafayette College and director of the Office of Diversity Initiatives and Social Justice at Dickinson College. Both of these schools are liberal arts colleges with a smaller population of students, similar to Puget Sound.
Benitez has gained a national reputation for his oration and workshop leadership at schools and conferences around the country; he has also written articles and book chapters on ethnic and identity studies.
Benitez was one of the youth keynote speakers at the 2012 Youth and Family Summit.
“From the first moment I visited Puget Sound and the Tacoma area, it was apparent that this is a campus committed to diversity and inclusion, and academic excellence,” Benitez said. “Realizing a diversity vision requires a collaborative spirit, authenticity in the mission, innovation and holism in the approach, and transparency and intentionality in the process—all of which I observed in the efforts of campus members and the leadership.”
President Ronald Thomas believes Benitez’s values, reputation and record will serve the diversity goals of the University.
“Michael Benitez brings a rich set of assets to this important role for Puget Sound at a strategically critical moment,” President Ronald Thomas said.
While the Puget Sound community eagerly awaits Benitez’s arrival on campus, students and staff are expected to honor the University Diversity Statement and to encourage cultural enrichment on campus. As a progressive and accepting educational facility, we are proud to expand our worldview and kindle a spirit of welcome for every culture with whom we connect.