Ralina L. Joseph, a university professor, educator, administrator and advocate whose work focuses on issues of equity, access and belonging in higher education and beyond, has been named UCLA’s new vice provost for inclusive excellence. She will begin her tenure by Sept. 1.

A member of the faculty at the University of Washington’s Seattle campus since 2005, Joseph is currently associate dean for equity and justice for graduate schools across the university’s three campuses and is founding director of the Center for Communication, Difference, and Equity and Presidential Term Professor of Communication. She is also an affiliate professor of American ethnic studies and of gender, women and sexuality studies.

In her new role at UCLA, Joseph will head the Office of Inclusive Excellence, where her responsibilities will include coordination of campuswide inclusive excellence initiatives, with a focus on campus climate issues, education and research, faculty recruitment and retention, strategic planning, training, community relations, policy development, communications, and fundraising.

Read more on Ralina’s appointment in the full announcement at the UCLA website here.