Dear UNCW Colleagues,

I am writing with regard to the interim leadership of the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI), subsequent to the departure of Dr. Jose Hernandez. As you may recall, Dr. Hernandez has accepted the role of Chief Diversity Officer at the University of South Florida, and he plans for his last day on campus to be June 6, 2013.

I am delighted to announce that Dr. Edelmira Segovia, who currently serves as UNCW’s Director of Centro Hispano within the OIDI, has agreed to serve as Interim Associate Provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. Her appointment will be effective June 7, 2013. The duration of her appointment will be dependent on the outcome of the study of UNCW’s overall approach to diversity, an initiative recently announced by Chancellor Miller.

Dr. Segovia has led Centro Hispano since 2009. A University of North Carolina Wilmington alumna twice over, Dr. Segovia holds both her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from UNCW, as well as a Master’s degree in Romance Languages/Spanish from Appalachian State University. Her area of research is Hispanic student success in post-secondary education, and she has 15 years of experience in North Carolina public education working with immigrants, ethnic minorities, and disenfranchised students.

Concurrent with her UNCW appointment, Dr. Segovia has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in ESL Concepts for Secondary Education Teachers (Watson College of Education) and Immigration in the U.S. (Honors College), respectively. She has served as guest lecturer in the Departments of Foreign Languages and Literatures and Communication Studies, in addition to contributing to faculty-led study abroad experiences through the Office of International Programs.

Dr. Segovia has presented at the North Carolina Association for Research in Education (NCARE), Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (CACRAO), North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NCASFAA), University of North Carolina’s Hispanic/Latino Faculty Forum, and various community and government organizations. She has served on multiple leadership committees, including the most recent Provost search committee, as well as the Student Leadership Consortium Committee. Segovia is active in the community, serving as co-chair of the Latino Alliance of Wilmington, an organization which is supported by Centro Hispano. She additionally serves on the Board of Directors of the Girls Scouts-North Carolina Coastal Pines (GSNCCP), Black River Health Services (BRHS), and Advisory Boards for the Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence - southeast (COSEE), El Puente, East Coast Migrant Head Start Program (ECMHSP), and Pender County Schools Academically Gifted Program. Notably, Dr. Segovia was a nominee for the YWCA Lower Cape Fear’s Women of Achievement Award and was named recipient of that organization’s Rachel Freeman Unsung Hero Award for 2013.

A native of Peru, Segovia has lived in North Carolina for the past 23 years. She’s a resident of Pender County, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.

With her strong knowledge of UNCW, scholarly and administrative experience in diversity and inclusion, and solid record of community involvement, Dr. Edelmira Segovia is well-positioned to assume this key leadership position while the institution studies its engagement in diversity and inclusion. I hope that you will join me in welcoming her to her new role.

Please note that the plan for interim leadership of Centro Hispano is forthcoming and will be announced when available.

Best,

Denise A. Battles
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
University of North Carolina Wilmington

Dr. Roger Worthington discussses "the perfect storm" at the
2013 Diversity Conference.

2012-13 Portfolio

Press Releases

• Wilmington Star News
• Greater Wilmington Business Journal
• WHQR Public Radio
• UNCW University Relations

Additional Diversity Resources and Initiatives

Academic Affairs

▪ Admissions

▪ International Programs

▪ Cultural Arts

▪ ExCel Learning Community University College

▪ Cameron School of Business Diversity Liaison

▪ College of Arts & Sciences Interdisciplinary Minors

▪ College of Health and Human Services Culture, Globalization and Diversity Committee

▪ Watson College of Education Diversity Committee

Student Affairs

▪ Disability Services

▪ Career Center Multicultural Mentor

▪ Campus Life Multicultural Student Organizations

▪ Campus Life Arts Program

▪ Seahawk Perch Non-traditional Students (Military/Veterans)

▪ Center for Leadership Education and Service

▪ Student Affairs Diversity Committee

Business Affairs

▪ Human Resources

▪ HUB Resource Center

▪ EEO/AA Policy

Diversity Highlights (conferences and meetings)

09.19.12 :: A Prayer for Healing: Strengthening Our Native Communities American Indian Women of Proud Nations