Lisa Guerrero has been named the inaugural vice chancellor for equity and inclusive excellence for WSU Pullman, effective July 1, 2022.
Guerrero joined the Washington State University faculty in 2004, and has served as associate vice provost for equity and inclusive excellence for the last two years. As part of that role, she has led WSU’s faculty cluster hire in “racism and social inequality in the Americas.”
“It is critical that we have strong, dedicated leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion at our flagship campus,” said WSU Pullman Chancellor and Provost Elizabeth Chilton. “Dr. Guerrero’s strong experience and leadership make her uniquely qualified for this role. I’m looking forward to working with our equity leaders in Pullman and across the WSU system and building on the important foundation that has already been laid.”
Guerrero earned her PhD in literature from UC Santa Cruz and her BA in Black studies and English from UC Santa Barbara. She has served in several roles at WSU, starting as an assistant professor and advancing to associate professor in 2010. She served as director of the Graduate Program in American Studies from 2012-17, and chair of the UCORE committee from 2013-2018. Guerrero earned promotion to professor in 2020.
“I am very excited to be stepping into this new role at WSU,” said Guerrero. “This step toward prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership would not be possible without the groundwork that has been laid by my talented colleagues, including Associate Vice President Jaime Nolan, Vice Provost Zoe Higheagle Strong, and the many other diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders in Pullman and across our campuses who have been committed to this work for a very long time.”
As the vice chancellor for equity and inclusive excellence, Guerrero will provide leadership to the Pullman campus and the WSU system in implementing WSU’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is looking forward to building on the existing work in the training and implementation of best practices for increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in faculty hiring, tenure and promotion, research support, faculty and student recruitment and retention, teaching and mentoring, curriculum planning, and student outreach/mentorship.
“So much progress in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space has happened across the WSU system over the last couple of years,” Guerrero remarked. “This position presents an opportunity to increase our collaboration in this critical work, and ensure that WSU is establishing an environment that advances equitable and inclusive practices across all facets of university life, in particular for minoritized WSU students, faculty, and staff.”
Guerrero joins Vice President and Vice Chancellor Asif Chaudhry, Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director Pat Chun, Vice President and Vice Chancellor Chris Keane, and Vice Chancellor Ellen Taylor as a member of Chancellor Chilton’s executive team.
