Administration

Dr. Arturo E. Ocampo

Assistant Provost for Diversity
Member of the Pacific Community since August 2008.

What are your impressions of how diverse Pacific's campus community is?

We are extremely diverse in some areas. However, as is the case with most Universities, there are other areas where we still have much work to do. I am confident that with the progress we have been making and the positive attitude here at Pacific, we can be a national model on diversity and inclusive excellence.

Diversity, in all its forms, enriches the educational experience by allowing all of us to share knowledge, perspectives and ideas that are grounded in all the ways we are different and unique. Diversity, however, must be managed purposefully. In addition to having diversity in the makeup of University employees and students, diversity concepts and multiculturalism must also be reflected in our policies, campus climate, programming and activities, curriculum, teaching and individual interactions. The primary areas of demographic diversity are those categories that generally have the greatest impact on identity and life opportunities, such as sex, race and ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation etc. The educational goals of diversity are intercultural competence and the development of critical thinking skills. Diversity also has a social justice component that requires we address social inequality. The social justice goal of diversity is equity and non-discrimination. The business goal of diversity is graduating students with a competitive edge because of their intercultural competence that will allow them to function more effectively in a diverse and global marketplace.

As the Assistant Provost for Diversity my job is to work with all groups that promote or impact diversity. I co-chair with Assistant Vice President of Diversity and Community Outreach, John Carvana, the University Diversity Advisory Committee that advises the University on all aspects of diversity. My primary areas of responsibility regarding diversity involve recruitment and retention of diverse faculty and staff, diversity in the curriculum, and the recruitment and retention of diverse students.

aocampo@pacific.edu
Office Phone 209.946.2551
Office of the Provost, Anderson Hall

Assistant Vice President, Diversity & Community Engagement
Division of Student Life

Member of the Pacific Community for 7 years

In terms of ethnicity, geographic residence, lifestyle preference, and socio-economic background Pacific is a very diverse community. More than that, having worked at other campuses throughout my career I find that Pacific has made great strides in its efforts to become a more inclusive community and not one whereby its members simply tolerate each other. Pacific's programs that make an extra effort to ensure inclusion includes, for example, the Multicultural Center, the Center for Community Involvement, Housing and Greek Life, the Community Involvement Program, SUCCESS, the Chaplain's Office and many others. On the academic side,

Simply stated, to me it means recognizing difference. More than defining diversity is the process of inclusion which is an active engagement of not just recognizing difference, but honoring and respecting difference as well. To simply recognize difference is not enough. Recognition alone leads to tolerance and tolerance only serves to foster greater separation and boundaries between people and groups. Institutions and, at the core level, its members need to move beyond mere recognition of difference towards acquiring a deeper and richer intention of wanting to know and to experience and to embrace those who are different in the hope of developing shared beliefs and understandings while still honoring differences.

In 2004, I co-founded the "Black Male Symposium" after attending a conference at Clemson University on Black Student Achievement and coming away fired up and ready to do something to address the circumstances facing Black males. While the initiative was short-lived due to scarcity of funds, it did receive the "Innovative Program of the Year" award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), and the "Best Practice" award from the Middle Pacific Association of Colleges and Employers (MPACE). Since that time I was promoted from the Director of the Career Resource Center to my current position and that has allowed me to have a broader impact on diversity. I oversee Pacific's Multicultural Affairs, SUCCESS and CIP programs as well as co-chair the University Diversity Committee. Additionally, I oversee the Career Resource Center which has made tremendous strides in intentionally reaching out to diverse programs and students and the Center for Community Involvement which has been a long-standing signature program of the University that addresses diversity more directly at the levels of socio-economic and educational privilege.

I am currently involved in a number of community outreach efforts in terms of addressing the needs of foster youth and developing programs aimed at bridging the achievement gap of students in our local public schools. I am a strong supporter of the rights of the members of our LGTBQIA community and the marriage equity issue which impacts residents of the state of California.

John P. Carvana
Office Phone: 209.946.2337
Office, Hand Hall