Announcing the New Interim HSI Director and Director of Academic Initiatives
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has announced two key leadership appointments within the Office of Academic Diversity.
Blas Guerrero Named Interim HSI Director
A distinguished leader with more than 25 years of experience, Blas Guerrero, Ph.D., has been selected as the interim director of the HSI Initiative at UC Davis. In this role, he will focus on building university-wide partnerships, representing UC Davis at HSI-related events and coordinating the upcoming César Chávez Leadership Conference.
"Blas is deeply committed to UC Davis and its HSI designation goals. His expertise in strategic engagement with communities of color will be invaluable as we work to strengthen our position as a leading Hispanic Serving Institution," said Luis Carvajal-Carmona, the associate vice chancellor for the Office of Academic Diversity.
Guerrero's previous tenure at UC Davis included serving as director of Strategic Diversity Recruitment and Transfer Initiatives. After retiring from UC Davis in 2021, Guerrero became the dean of admissions at Samuel Merritt University. He served in that role for a few years prior to returning to UC Davis to become the interim director of the HSI Initiative.
Thomas O'Donnell Promoted to Director of Academic Initiatives
Selected as the director of Academic Initiatives, Thomas O'Donnell, Ph.D., will oversee strategic initiatives related to key faculty centers, including the Center for the Advancement of Multicultural Perspectives on Science (CAMPOS) and the Center for the Advancement of Multicultural Perspectives on the Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (CAMPSSAH). He will also contribute to shaping UC Davis' long-term HSI strategies and play a pivotal role in advancing broader diversity initiatives within the Office of Academic Diversity.
Upon starting his new position, Carvajal-Carmona commented on O'Donnell's leadership in the division. "Tom has been an invaluable member of our team as a principal analyst in the Office of Academic Diversity, demonstrating exceptional skills in managing our UCOP AFD grants and effectively leading the CAMPOS and CAMPSSAH initiatives during periods of director absence. His proven leadership abilities and deep understanding of our organization qualify him to drive our academic initiatives forward."
Before the role, O'Donnell served as a principal analyst in the Office of Academic Diversity, managing the UC Office of the President’s Advancing Faculty Diversity grants and leading the CAMPOS and CAMPSSAH initiatives during transitions.
Guerrero and O'Donnell will begin their positions starting in the 2024-25 academic year.