Administration
Dr. Arturo E. Ocampo
Assistant Provost for Diversity
Member of the Pacific Community since August 2008.
What are your impressions of how diverse Pacific's campus community is?
We are extremely diverse in some areas. However, as is the case with most Universities, there are other areas where we still have much work to do. I am confident that with the progress we have been making and the positive attitude here at Pacific, we can be a national model on diversity and inclusive excellence.
What does Diversity mean to you?Diversity, in all its forms, enriches the educational experience by allowing all of us to share knowledge, perspectives and ideas that are grounded in all the ways we are different and unique. Diversity, however, must be managed purposefully. In addition to having diversity in the makeup of University employees and students, diversity concepts and multiculturalism must also be reflected in our policies, campus climate, programming and activities, curriculum, teaching and individual interactions. The primary areas of demographic diversity are those categories that generally have the greatest impact on identity and life opportunities, such as sex, race and ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation etc. The educational goals of diversity are intercultural competence and the development of critical thinking skills. Diversity also has a social justice component that requires we address social inequality. The social justice goal of diversity is equity and non-discrimination. The business goal of diversity is graduating students with a competitive edge because of their intercultural competence that will allow them to function more effectively in a diverse and global marketplace.
What activities have you been involved in that relates to diversity?As the Assistant Provost for Diversity my job is to work with all groups that promote or impact diversity. I co-chair with Assistant Vice President of Diversity and Community Outreach, John Carvana, the University Diversity Advisory Committee that advises the University on all aspects of diversity. My primary areas of responsibility regarding diversity involve recruitment and retention of diverse faculty and staff, diversity in the curriculum, and the recruitment and retention of diverse students.
Contact Information:aocampo@pacific.edu
Office Phone 209.946.2551
Office of the Provost, Anderson Hall
Lisa Wilson Cooper
Assistant Vice President for Diversity & Community Engagement
Lisa Wilson Cooper returned to Pacific with fifteen plus years of experience in higher education having worked in a variety of capacities at a wide range of postsecondary institutions including public, private, proprietary as well as in both the two-year and 4-year college and university setting. Deeply committed to diversity and inclusion, Lisa has spent her career in roles that foster access, equity, inclusion and opportunity for underrepresented and at-risk students. Other professional areas of interest include professional development for faculty and staff, innovative and effective uses of technology to support teaching and learning as well as service and experiential learning opportunities for students.
Most recently she served as the Dean of the Educational Support Services Division at the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP). CCP is one of the largest urban postsecondary schools in the state of Pennsylvania and the only public institution in the city of Philadelphia serving approximately 35,000 students. In this executive-level management position, Lisa had oversight for a breadth of responsibilities that ensured students receive comprehensive academic support services including the Assessment Center, Academic Advising, Center on Disability, Collaborative Learning Communities, the Developmental Education Program, ESL Programs and Services, the Learning Lab (tutoring and supplemental instruction), the Library and TRiO Student Support Services. Successful initiatives under her leadership included guiding the development of the College's Information Literacy Standards and Assessment Plan, piloting Accelerated Developmental Education Programs, enhancing Dual Admissions Agreements (special Transfer Articulation), revision of Basic Skills Assessment Protocols and Standards as well as providing comprehensive faculty development opportunities regarding the General Education Program and Academic Advising.
Returning to the University after having been a Pacifican for more than six years, Lisa served as Interim Assistant Provost for Diversity (2007-2008), the Director the Educational Resource Center and a faculty member in the Benerd School of Education (2005-2008), as well as the Coordinator of the Office of Services for Students with Disability (2002-2005). She worked collaboratively across the Pacific community to develop the University's first Statement on Diversity and Inclusion, update and implement the Faculty Diversity Hiring Plan, and coordinated with faculty in the development of diversity learning outcomes and the planning for a diversity course requirement for all Pacific students. Further, she taught in the Student Affairs graduate program. Her dedicated service to Pacific included:
- Secretary (2006-2008) - The Benerd School of Education's Faculty Council
- Hearing Officer (2004-2008) - Judicial Affairs Board
- Co-facilitator and Co-founder (2004-2008) - Pacific Women Connect
- Co-coordinator (2003-2008) - Interprofessional Collaboration Group
- Chair (2004) - Northern California Diversity in Graduate Education Forum, Local Planning Subcommittee
- Committee participation (2002-2008): University Diversity Committee, First Year
- Experience Committee, Orientation Task Force, Community Involvement Program Advisory Board, Women's Leadership Conference Planning Committee, Crisis Response Team, and Black History Month Planning Committee
Understanding the importance of creating and maintaining viable relationships with local, state, regional and national organizations and agencies throughout her career, Lisa accepted the appointment to the Pennsylvania State GEAR-Up Grant Advisory Board in 2008, served on the Executive Board of the Association for Colleges Tutoring and Learning Assistance since 2007, chaired the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Subcommittee on Learning Centers from 2007-2008 and, from 2004 to 2008, was a member of the Mayor's Task Force on Persons with Disabilities for the City of Stockton. She co-authored the strategies for college student success text, Stepping Into the Future, in 2002. Additionally, she has presented extensively at the national and regional level (as well as internationally) on postsecondary academic support and retention strategies. Honors that she has received include induction into the Delta Kappa Gamma International Education Honor Society - Tau Chapter in 2008 as well as the following University of the Pacific recognition:
- 2008 Inclusive Excellence Award: Innovations in the Curriculum & Co-curriculum
- Judith Chambers Excellence in Student Life Award - 2007
- 2007 Woman of Distinction Award
- 2007 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace and Social Justice Award
Lisa is currently a doctoral candidate in the George Washington University's Higher Education Administration Program (EdD expected in 2010). She possesses a Master of Arts in Psychological Services and a Post-Master's Certificate in Counseling from Marymount University; a Master of Science in Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and International Relations from Goucher College.
Contact Information:
lcooper@pacific.edu
Office of Student Life
Hand Hall, 1st Floor