Ready to serve all Pacificans
UCDEI is comprised of 40 faculty, staff and students responsible for assisting in the development of programs, projects and policies that will enhance diversity, equity and inclusion, with emphasis on issues related to, but not limited to, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and disability.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The committee is a collaborative partner in creating and sustaining a culture that consistently reflects DEI as a core value that informs how we work, interact and support one another and those we serve.
DEI principles
Our work is ongoing and requires commitment, education, humility, innovation and accountability. We are dedicated to helping Pacificans on our three campuses build and strengthen the capacity to incorporate DEI principles into their roles at the university.
Pacific's rich cross-section of cultures
We are mindful of the incredibly rich diversity of identities represented at Pacific, and strive to achieve the powerful and attainable goal expressed by our university president: to become the leading anti-racist institution in the nation.
Susan Giraldez is an Associate Professor of Spanish in the Department of Modern Language & Literature. A former Assistant Dean of College of the Pacific, she has served as Chair of the Academic Council and is a past Chair of the Department of Modern Language & Literature.
In addition to her role as Co-Chair of the UCDEI, Dr. Giraldez is a board member of El Concilio California. She is the advisor to the Spanish language Honor Society Sigma Delta Pi and continues to serve on the Academic Council. She is the 2011 recipient of Pacific’s Enough is Enough Award for the Campaign to End Social Violence. In 2014 and 2018 she was named Outstanding Professor of the Year by Latinx Students.
Professor Giraldez holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts and Spanish from University of the Pacific, a Master of Arts in Spanish from Middlebury College and a Ph.D. in Hispanic Literature from University of California Santa Barbara. Prior to joining the faculty at Pacific in 1993 she taught as a lecturer at University of California Berkeley and worked as an Assistant Editor for McGraw-Hill Publishing.
Allison Dumas is the associate vice president of student life, equity and academic partnerships at University of the Pacific. Prior to this role, she served over 30 years at Pacific in equity and inclusion leadership as executive director of equity programs, director of community involvement program, and associate director of SUCCESS/TRiO.
In addition to her role as co-chair of the UCDEI, she has been a member of the California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education, developed sustainable pipeline projects for underrepresented Stockton youth, and has received:
- Paul Harris Fellow, by Rotary of Stockton
- Woman of Distinction, 2013
- Podesto Outstanding Mentor Award, 2016
- UCC Dream Award, 2016
- Champion of DEI, 2020
Faculty
Susan Giraldez, Associate Professor of Modern Language & Literature
Larry Levine, Professor of Law
Cynthia Dobbs, Professor of English
Elisa Chavez, Professor of Dentistry
Melanie Felmlee, Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry/Pharmaceutics
Jeff Burmeister, Associate Professor of Engineering
Staff
Allison Dumas, Associate Vice President for Equity and Academic Partnerships
Melissa Yamanaka, Diversity and Outreach Manager for Dental Admissions
Randall Ogans, Enterprise Applications Developer
Mariam El-menshawi, Director for California Victims Legal Resource Center and Adjunct Professor
Mario Enriquez, Director for Center for Identity and Inclusion
Daniel Nuss, Services for Students with Disabilities Director
Carrie Fox, Director of University Events
Jessica Bilecki, Sustainability Director
Christian Cardona, Assistant Director for Undergraduate/Graduate Enrollment
Ronda Marr, Director for Procurement Services
Daniela Romero, University Financial Analyst
Francine Redada, Director of College Corps
