News Archive

Diane Ariza is Nazareth's First VP for Diversity and Inclusion

Published January 04, 2018

Nazareth College welcomes Diane Ariza as its first vice president for Diversity and Inclusion (VPDI), a new role that will act as the College’s highest-ranking diversity administrator. The VPDI is an organizational change agent in an integrative role that leads, coordinates, enhances, and supervises the formal diversity effort to create and sustain an environment that is inclusive and responsive to all. Ariza begins in January 2018.

“We are very excited about welcoming Diane to Nazareth and look forward to working with her as we continue to build a community that prepares students to live in a diverse world, to live and work with people across differences,” said President Daan Braveman.

The VPDI will provide strategic diversity leadership through significant collaborations and/or partnerships with the entire Nazareth campus community. These initiatives will develop within the campus community the knowledge, understanding, and skills to respect diversity and equity, engagement across difference, and development of an inclusive global perspective.

“Nazareth’s commitment to social justice and civic engagement provides a fertile ground for me to work with students, helping them to be active leaders and learners in advancing diversity and inclusion for all, and bettering the world,” said Ariza.

Ariza is coming to Nazareth College from her role as associate vice president and chief diversity officer at Quinnipiac University, where she served as the university’s executive level diversity and inclusion and global strategist. She oversaw the Department of Cultural and Global Engagement bringing multicultural, education abroad, global partnerships and initiatives, international services, and the Albert Schweitzer Institute (international service learning) all under one cohesive entity.

She has more than 20 years of administrative and leadership experience, teaching, and institutional planning in reinforcing the values of academic excellence, equity, inclusion, multicultural and global diversity in higher education. Along with Quinnipiac, she’s worked at several universities including: Western Michigan University, Oakland University, University of Nebraska-Omaha, and Albion College.

Ariza has also taught courses in the areas of Caribbean identity and diaspora; children of immigrants, equity issues in school systems; multicultural and global competency; and global health disparities.

Ariza earned her bachelor’s from Stetson University, and both her master’s in anthropology and doctorate in sociology and ethnic studies from Western Michigan University.

For More Information

Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | 585-389-2456 or jlong2@naz.edu

Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.

Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.

Diane Ariza named Nazareth's first Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion