Dr. Carlos Tasso Aquino Hired As Interim Chief Diversity Officer
Incoming Interim Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Carlos Tasso Aquino (Photo courtesy of University of Phoenix)
By Phoebe Doscher, Editor-in-Chief
Yesterday, President Iuliano announced that Dr. Carlos Tasso Aquino will assume the role of Interim Chief Diversity Officer and a member of the President’s Council starting Aug. 18.
Aquino’s interim role fills the vacancy of former inaugural executive director of the Office of Multicultural Engagement Darrien Davenport, who became Interim Chief Diversity Officer after Dr. Jeanne Arnold’s departure in June. Davenport announced his resignation on July 23.
“In this leadership role, Dr. Aquino will ensure that the College continues to make tangible progress on the essential work of advancing our diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) commitments,” Iuliano said in an email to the campus community. “He will build from the strong foundation Dr. Jeanne Arnold helped to establish.”
Aquino will report on and address the progress on priorities established by the Bias Awareness and Resource Committee Report. He will also assess and review the Inclusion Action Plan across divisions, and work on furthering commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging alongside the college’s strategic planning process.
“[Aquino will be] a resource for the ongoing comprehensive examination of the College’s diversity infrastructure … and [engage] with all relevant campus committees and working groups in order to ensure they are achieving their individual goals and coordinating their collective efforts effectively,” Iuliano said.
Aquino comes to Gettysburg from Bryant & Stratton College, where he served as the Director of Business Development and Community Relations. He is also the Director and Board Member of the Northern Virginia Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce. He has served as the founder and Senior Executive Director of the Center of Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion.
“I have full confidence that Dr. Aquino and the wisdom, strategic thinking, and passion that he brings will help the College to make the progress we seek—not only in the near term, but solidifying a framework for which we can thoughtfully and ambitiously build out from for many years to come,” Iuliano said.
The college worked with executive placement service The Registry to secure Aquino. He will fill this role during the national search for a permanent Chief Diversity Officer.
