Amalia Pallares Takes Next Step in Career Journey
At the end of 2023, Vice Chancellor Amalia Pallares, Office of Diversity, Equity and Engagement (ODEE), will transition onto her next career milestone.
When asked what she was most proud of during her tenure as vice chancellor, Pallares had a long list; she highlighted:
- The Advancing Racial Equity strategic planning process which has enabled every unit at UIC to be able to identify its main gaps and areas of work as well as design and implement realistic plans to address them
- The Bridge to Faculty (B2F) program which is leading to significant and steady gains in underrepresented faculty
- The hiring of exceptional new leadership in the cultural centers and ODEE while continuing to support the strong and experienced leaders that were already in place
- The creation of the Diversity Community Engagement Internships which are expertly managed by the cultural centers and neighborhood centers
- The successful advocacy (in partnership with a statewide coalition of students and educational professionals) for the RISE bill which provided MAP grants and institutional access to undocumented students
- The creation of a reciprocal, respectful and collaborative relationship with local communities via the Auburn Gresham and North Lawndale Neighborhood Centers
- The consolidation and reenvisioning of the Diversity Collaborative Committee that groups DEI professionals and diversity committee leaders throughout campus
- The formation of the Diversity Facilitation Collaborative to build capacity for diversity education throughout the campus
- The recognition of diversity work in promotion and tenure along with the diversity and community engagement faculty awards
Pallares also expressed her gratitude to the UIC community for all its support: “ It would have been impossible to achieve these changes without the engagement and participation of a broad array of faculty, staff and students who also worked to make a difference”
After her departure, Pallares will be the new vice provost for inclusive excellence at Arizona State University.
Reflecting on her hopes for the future of the ODEE, Pallares stated: “I am hopeful that ODEE programming will continue to develop in ways that support growing campus DEI needs, bolster our Advancing Racial Equity programs and help us achieve our equity goals.”