Finalists Named for Minnesota State Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 13, 2021 – Minnesota State has named four finalists in the search for the next vice chancellor for equity and inclusion. The candidates are Andriel Dees, Sonia DeLuca Fernández, Ramon L. Knox, and Andrew Thompson (A.T.) Miller. 

The candidates were recommended by a search advisory committee that was comprised of students, faculty, and staff, and was chaired by Sharon Pierce, president of Minneapolis College. The candidates are scheduled for open forum presentations on May 20 and 21. Additional information about the forums, the candidates, and the process for providing feedback is available in the Position Profile.

Andriel Dees has served Minnesota State since 2019, initially as the system civil rights/Title IX compliance officer and currently as the interim system diversity officer. Previously, she served Capella University as director, diversity and inclusion from 2014 to 2018; the University of Wisconsin-River Falls as chief diversity officer and special assistant to the chancellor for Affirmative Action/EEO compliance from 2010 to 2013; William Mitchell College of Law as associate dean for multicultural affairs from 2005 to 2010; and Office of the Monitor as operations managing attorney from 2002 to 2004. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University (VA) and a juris doctor from William Mitchell College of Law. Her open forum presentation is scheduled for 11 to 11:45 a.m. on May 21. 

Sonia DeLuca Fernández has served the Pennsylvania State University Office of Educational Equity as associate vice provost since 2018, and as assistant vice provost from 2016 to 2018. Previously, she served the New York University Division of Student Affairs as director, research and assessment, from 2008 to 2016; the University of Michigan School of Education as a research assistant from 2002 to 2007 and as a graduate student staff assistant from 2007 to 2008; and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, as director of off-campus student services from 2000 to 2002. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s from the University of Iowa, and a doctorate from the University of Michigan. Her open forum presentation is scheduled for 10 to 10:45 a.m. on May 21. 

Ramon L. Knox served the San Diego Community College District (CA) as interim vice chancellor, student services in 2020. Previous roles included serving the Long Beach Community College District (CA) as dean, student support services and dean, student affairs from 2016 to 2020; California State University, Fullerton as chief of operations from 2014 to 2016; Chapman University (CA) as associate dean of students from 2009 to 2014; Augsburg College (MN) as director of campus activities, orientation, and LGBTQIA services from 2006 to 2008; Macalester College (MN) as associate director, Leadership and Community Development Division of Student Affairs from 2005 to 2006 and as associate director residential life from 2002 to 2005; and Cornell University (NY) as director of the Multicultural Living Learning Unit and Clara Dickson Hall from 2000 to 2002. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University (IN) and a master’s from Missouri State University. His open forum presentation is scheduled for 11 to 11:45 a.m. on May 20. 

Andrew Thompson (A.T.) Miller served Central Michigan University as vice president and chief diversity officer from 2018 to 2021. Previously, he served Cornell University (NY) as associate vice provost for academic diversity from 2011 to 2018; and the University of Michigan from 2000 to 2011 in several capacities including faculty director of the Center for Global and Intercultural Study, chair of the Council on Global Engagement, director of the global intercultural experience for undergraduates, and the coordinator of multicultural teaching and learning. He also served on the faculty of Union College (NY) and Davidson College (NC), and he served as the head of school at Shikokho Secondary School in Kenya. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College (NC) and a master’s and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. His open forum presentation is scheduled for 10 to 10:45 a.m. on May 20.

The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is expected to consider Chancellor Devinder Malhotra’s recommendation at its June 16, 2021 meeting. It is anticipated that the appointment for the new vice chancellor will begin during the summer of 2021. 

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Minnesota State includes 30 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 340,000 students. It is the third-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.