In 2006, Nancy "Rusty" Barceló was appointed the University of Minnesota's first vice president and vice provost for equity and diversity. Dr. Barceló is responsible for developing and implementing a systemwide strategic plan for equity and diversity consistent with the university's strategic positioning efforts. Read the article in Brief about Dr. Barcelo's appointment.

Dr. Barceló is a nationally-recognized leader in the field, with over thirty years of experience in equity and diversity in higher education. As Vice President and Vice Provost, Dr. Barceló provides leadership and strategic planning on issues relating to faculty, staff, and student equity and diversity across the University of Minnesota system. She is a member of the President's Executive Team, and works closely with the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost and the Office of the Senior Vice President for System Academic Administration.

Before returning to the University of Minnesota in 2006, Dr. Barceló served as Vice President and Vice Provost for Diversity at the University of Washington for five years. During her first tenure at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Barceló was the Associate Vice President for Multicultural and Academic Affairs and the Chair of the Chicano Studies Department. Dr. Barceló also has a twenty-year history with the University of Iowa, having served as the Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs, as well as Assistant Dean.

Dr. Barceló earned her Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Iowa and her B.A. from Chico State University. Dr. Barceló has been hailed as both a leader for transformational change around issues of equity and diversity as well as an astute visionary practitioner. She made the long climb from being the only Chicana student at the University of Iowa to her current position at the University of Minnesota, and has altered the landscape of higher education in the process.

Rusty Barceló