A nationally recognized leader and advocate for empowering others, Matos currently serves as vice chancellor for equity and inclusion at the University of California, Berkeley. (Photo courtesy of Dania Matos)DePaul President Robert L. Manuel is pleased to announce Dania Matos will serve as vice president for diversity, inclusion and belonging, effective Feb. 1, 2025. The announcement follows a nine-month
national search that included broad university participation.
“Diversity, inclusion, and belonging are central to who we are as a Catholic, Vincentian university. We do this work because we are a faith-based institution,” Manuel says. “Dania exemplifies how to connect our commitment to diversity and justice with our mission work, consistent with our faith community. She has extensive experience designing successful models for complex institutions that benefit students, including expertise in fundraising to support strategic initiatives.”
A nationally recognized leader and advocate for empowering others, Matos currently serves as vice chancellor for equity and inclusion at the University of California, Berkeley. Under her leadership, UC Berkeley established new innovative programs and initiatives to advance equity-based practices throughout the institution.
Prior to her role at UC Berkeley, she was the inaugural associate chancellor and chief diversity officer at the University of California, Merced. She also successfully served as deputy chief diversity officer at William & Mary.
“The work of equity, justice, belonging and inclusion is not just work I do, but it is in the very fabric of who I am,” Matos says. “My role is not to speak for others but to create room for others to speak for themselves.”
Student success and well-being are a cornerstone of her work. At UC Berkeley and UC Merced, she implemented programs and resources that directly addressed barriers for underrepresented groups. She has partnered with students on local, state and national policies and advocacy, including access to paid fellowships for undocumented students and the development of programs for disabled students.
Throughout her career, Matos has championed equitable recruitment and retention practices, developed transformative strategic plans and cultivated inclusive communities. Her collaborative approach, which centers on humanity and systemic change, earned her recognition as one of the
Top 25 Women in Higher Education by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
“In my academic and professional experiences, I have often been the first or the only, which has shaped a career of dismantling oppression in all its forms,” Matos says. “My passion for creating environments where everyone can thrive aligns with DePaul’s core values and Vincentian personalism. I look forward to partnering with the DePaul community to uphold the sacred dignity of every individual and work towards systemic change.”
In addition to her extensive experience in higher education leadership, Matos brings strong fundraising and resource development skills. At UC Berkeley and UC Merced, she worked closely with donors, foundations and corporate partners to secure funding for groundbreaking diversity initiatives, such as providing dedicated academic counselors to vulnerable populations. She has earned grants that exceed $1 million from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Education.
A native of Puerto Rico, Matos credits her mother and grandmother for shaping her passion for advocacy and leadership.
“As a Black Latina raised by a single mom, I was taught early on to think and use my voice to do something about the world I was inheriting,” Matos says. “My mom shaped me in the most formidable of ways and ensured that I knew what was going to be required of me in pursuit of equity, justice, belonging and inclusion. The gravity of responsibility she bestowed on me is one that I work towards in word and deed every day.”
Matos holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Brown University and a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law. She is fluent in Spanish and French.
Sonia Soltero, president of DePaul’s Faculty Council and professor in the College of Education, and Martine Kei Green-Rogers, dean of The Theatre School, led the
search committee, which included a diverse group of representatives from the colleges, schools, administrative departments and shared governance councils.
“I’m grateful to the search committee for their time and dedication to finding the best person to fill this critical role for our university community. I also would like to recognize José Perales for serving as interim vice president for the last year and a half,” Manuel says. “Thanks to all their efforts, DePaul is gaining an exceptional leader who will elevate our entire university.”
More information about the search process is available
here. Read more about DePaul’s commitment to diversity
here.