UC Berkeley College of Chemistry names chief diversity, equity officer
Last Updated February 9, 2021
UC Berkeley’s College of Chemistry welcomed Brice Yates as the inaugural chief diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, officer Monday.
As chief, Yates will create DEI initiatives for members of the college at all levels, including faculty, staff and students, according to a campus press release. Among his first steps will be working with Anne Baranger, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion for the College of Chemistry, to develop a five-year strategic plan for initiatives to increase DEI efforts within the college.
“Within STEM fields, underrepresented minority student numbers are often lower,” Yates said in an email. “It’s important that we focus on initiatives that highlight diversity, equity and inclusion for underrepresented minority students in order to increase recruitment, retention and graduation rates.”