Renetta Garrison Tull Elected President of LACCEI

Renetta Garrison Tull, vice chancellor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California, Davis, has been elected president of the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions (LACCEI). Her term will begin on January 1, 2025. 

Tull was selected for the leadership role because of her deep commitment to advancing diversity in STEM and building global networks in engineering, according to LACCEI.

LACCEI, a non-profit consortium that unites more than 65 member institutions across the Americas and Europe, has spent the past 24 years promoting international collaboration to enhance engineering and technology education, practice, research and innovation. LACCEI is committed to bridging Latin America and the Caribbean with the rest of the world through engineering. In 2016, the Organization of American States (OAS) named LACCEI as a Center of Excellence for Engineering Education—an important credential that has allowed LACCEI to strengthen the quality of education in engineering, academic leadership and student competitions.

"Tull's dedication to LACCEI’s mission and her passionate advocacy for diversity in engineering makes her an outstanding choice for this role," said Jose Texier, assistant director of LACCEI. "Her leadership will not only continue but also expand LACCEI's efforts to create globally inclusive engineering communities."

In awarding her the position, members of LACCEI highlighted Tull’s extensive background with the organization, which spans more than a decade of contributions including roles as Vice President of Initiatives and Chair of the Diversity Forum.

A Career Dedicated to Women in STEM and Humanitarian Engineering

Tull's work with LACCEI complements her broader dedication to fostering diversity in STEM, with a particular focus on increasing the participation of women and underrepresented groups in engineering. As a champion for gender equity in engineering, she has been instrumental in creating opportunities for women across Latin America and the Caribbean. Her efforts align with her scholarship in humanitarian engineering—a field focused on applying engineering principles to solve global challenges and improve lives.

From her work with UNESCO to the Global Engineering Deans Council, Tull has driven initiatives that emphasize diversity as a critical element in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her new role as LACCEI President will provide a platform to amplify these efforts, ensuring inclusive, globally engaged communities of engineers are ready to address challenges such as climate change, healthcare disparities and human rights.

Building on the Success of the PROMISE Program

Tull’s election also builds upon her work with the PROMISE program, a national model she developed to support diversity in STEM by improving recruitment, retention and advancement for underrepresented students. At UC Davis, Tull leads the PROMISE Engineering Institute, which connects institutions on both U.S. coasts. The West Coast branch, located at UC Davis, partners with eight University of California campuses, while the East Coast branch, based at UMBC, continues to support institutions like Morgan State University and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Through the PROMISE Engineering Institute, Tull has facilitated partnerships with Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), creating more pathways for underrepresented students to pursue careers in engineering. PROMISE’s mission is to cultivate diverse engineers ready to address global challenges from a humanitarian perspective.

A Vision for Inclusive Excellence in Global Engineering

As President of LACCEI, Tull will focus on strengthening UC Davis’s ties with LACCEI members and organizations connected to diverse communities, including the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). She will also collaborate with international engineering bodies such as the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and the Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC).

Tull’s presidency aligns with her goal of building globally competent engineering communities committed to inclusive excellence in STEM. She has continually advocated for the integration of diversity, equity and inclusion in engineering. This new role will enable her to foster collaboration among academic institutions, government agencies and international organizations in addressing today’s pressing issues through engineering.

"Her presidency marks an exciting new chapter for LACCEI," Texier said. "We are confident that Tull’s expertise and commitment to equity will guide LACCEI’s growth as a consortium that leads the Americas in engineering and technology."

For more information, visit the LACCEI 2025 Multiconference page, where Tull will host her first major event as President next July in Mexico City.