SUNY Board of Trustees Appoint Dr. Ricardo Nazario-Colón Senior Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer
March 21, 2023
Accomplished Administrator With More Than 30 Years of Experience in Higher Education, Business, and the Military
Dr. Nazario-Colón’s Photo is Available Here
Albany, NY – At the recommendation of State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, Jr., the SUNY Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Ricardo Nazario-Colón as the senior vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion and chief diversity officer. The announcement was made by the Board and Chancellor King today and becomes effective on May 15, 2023.
Dr. Nazario-Colón is the first permanent CDO since the passing of Teresa A. Miller. Deputy Chief Operating Officer Valerie Dent is currently serving as interim chief diversity officer.
"Diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to the long-term success of SUNY, higher education, and our nation. Dr. Ricardo Nazario-Colón is an exceptionally talented individual who will fill this important role as we strive toward our goal of inclusivity. With Ricardo’s assistance, we will ensure that justice and equity run through all decisions we make at SUNY," said SUNY Chancellor King. "I would also like to thank Deputy COO Valerie Dent for furthering SUNY’s commitment to be a more equitable institution throughout her time as interim CDO."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Dr. Ricardo Nazario-Colon takes on a crucial responsibility in accepting this role. SUNY, founded nearly 75 years ago with opportunity for all at the core of its mission, has made great strides in diversity, equity, and inclusion, but more is needed until every person in New York knows SUNY has a place for them to grow and succeed. Dr. Nazario-Colon, with his extraordinary track record of accomplishment, has every tool and talent needed in this important journey."
Dr. Ricardo Nazario-Colón said, "What drew me to the position was the opportunity to join Chancellor King’s team to ensure SUNY is the best system of public higher education, by eliminating existing barriers to college and support students’ progress toward their degree. My thanks to Chairman Tisch, the SUNY Board of Trustees, and Chancellor King for the opportunity to serve, and I look forward to the work ahead of us."
About Dr. Ricardo Nazario-Colón
Ricardo Nazario-Colón was born in the South Bronx, New York, and raised in the highlands of Puerto Rico. He is an accomplished administrator with more than 30 years of experience in various industries, including higher education, business, U.S. Military, and state government. He is the inaugural chief diversity officer and inclusive executive at Western Carolina University, a role he has held since 2016.
Dr. Nazario-Colón has served on many different boards and committees. He currently serves as the National President of the Appalachian Studies Association, is an elected board member of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, a member of the Appalachian Regional Commission's Leadership Institute, and serves on the University Press of Kentucky Appalachian Futures: Black, Native, and Queer Voice advisory board. In addition, Dr. Nazario-Colón chaired Governor Cooper's Advisory Council on Hispanic Latino Affairs, as well as served on the Fort Bragg Renaming Commission, the Kentucky Native American Commission, the NASPA Latinx Knowledge Community state representative for Kentucky and North Carolina, and the UNC System Racial Equity Task Force whose final report was submitted on December 16, 2020.
He is a published poet with numerous publications in journals and anthologies and has authored two poetic books, Of Jíbaros and Hillbillies, Plain View Press 2011, and The Recital, Winged City Press 2011. Dr. Nazario-Colón’s research interests are Black culture centers, multiracial identity experience, and student leadership development. His doctoral research focused on African American faculty and staff retention. He is a former U.S. Marine, a life member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., a graduate of DeWitt Clinton high school, and former division one cross country athlete, and a co-founder of the Affrilachian Poets.
Dr. Nazario-Colón earned a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Western Carolina University, a Master's degree in Secondary Education from Pace University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature and Latin American Studies from the University of Kentucky.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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