University of Washington Interim President Ana Mari Cauce and Interim Provost Jerry Baldasty have appointed Gabriel Gallardo as interim vice president for minority affairs and vice provost for diversity, effective Aug. 3. Gallardo succeeds Sheila Edwards Lange who accepted the position of interim president at Seattle Central College.
A strong advocate for student success in higher education, Gallardo has served in administrative roles with the UW Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity (OMA&D) for nearly two decades.
“Dr. Gallardo has a rich history of contributions to the UW, as well as a passionate commitment to equity and inclusive excellence in higher education,” said Cauce. “Interim Provost Baldasty and I are confident that his leadership will continue to propel the work being done by OMA&D to broaden college access, support student success and advance diversity on behalf of the University.”
In his most recent position as OMA&D associate vice president for student services and academic support programs, Gallardo provided leadership for both state and federally-funded programs that focus on the retention and graduation of students from low-income, first-generation and underrepresented backgrounds.
He was the principal investigator and director of the federally-funded TRiO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, which prepares first-generation, low-income and underrepresented students for doctoral degrees. Gallardo served as the principal investigator for the federally-funded College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) committed to increasing the number of students from migrant and farm working backgrounds that enroll in higher education and complete baccalaureate degrees. He also administered OMA&D’s international initiatives and scholarship programs.
Prior to his eight-year tenure as OMA&D associate vice president, Gallardo served as OMA&D assistant vice president for new initiatives (2004-07), assistant to the vice president for new initiatives (2003-04) and administrative director for new initiatives (2002-03). He has directed the McNair Program since 1999 and initially started his OMA&D career in 1997 as director of the Early Identification Program for Graduate and Professional studies.
“The Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity has always been ‘my home away from home,’ and I am excited to lead the organization forward at this critical juncture,” Gallardo said. “I am dedicated to building on the legacy of work advanced by Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange and further accelerating the vision of equity and inclusion on our campus. I am deeply committed to working with our staff, campus partners and UW leadership to help all of our students realize a rich and meaningful Husky Experience.”
In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Gallardo has been an affiliate assistant professor in the UW’s Department of American Ethnic Studies (Chicano Studies) since 2002, and has mentored many students involved in undergraduate research projects through the Presidential Scholars Program and via independent study opportunities on the UW campus.
He earned his bachelor’s (1989), master’s (1993) and doctorate (2000) degrees in geography from the UW.
Later this summer, an advisory search committee will be formed to conduct a national search for a new vice president for minority affairs and vice provost for diversity with the goal of having someone in place by spring or summer 2016.