New Mexico State University has named four finalists for a new vice president position to lead initiatives in equity, diversity and inclusion. Online public forums with each candidate will begin Monday, Feb. 15.
The finalists are:
- Obie Ford III, associate vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Washington State University.
- LeManuel Lee Bitsóí, associate vice president for diversity affairs and special advisor to the president for indigenous affairs at Fort Lewis College.
- Teresa Maria Linda Scholz, associate vice chancellor and chief diversity officer at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
- Belinda ‘Otukolo Saltiban, chief inclusion and diversity officer at Utah Valley University.
A search committee, co-chaired by Provost Carol Parker and Luis Cifuentes, vice president for research and dean of the Graduate School, began work in August 2020 and launched a nationwide search for qualified candidates.
The vice president for equity, inclusion and diversity is a newly created position, reporting directly to NMSU President John Floros, that will support NMSU in taking strong action toward creating a workplace and an educational environment that better reflects the world, and provides opportunities and tools for NMSU students and employees to thrive.
The finalist forums will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. Feb. 15-18. Finalists’ resumes, interview schedules and Zoom links, along with forms to provide feedback, will be posted online at https://webcomm.nmsu.edu/hire/vice-president-for-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/.