Loyola Marymount University Designates VP of DEI as Ombuds

The private university in Los Angeles, California, has delegated Ombuds duties to its Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Emelyn A. dela Peña. In August 2020, LMU's Black Faculty and Staff Association presented a list of demands that included the creation of an Ombuds "external of Human Resources that focuses on protecting the labor rights of Black and people of color" at the university. Dela Pena was appointed the VP for DEI in December 2021 and the website for her office was updated recently to indicate that "she also serves as the university ombudsperson." 

Dela Pena came to LMU after serving as Associate Vice Provost for Inclusion, Community & Integrative Learning at Stanford University for three years. She held similar positions previously at Washington University in St. Louis, Harvard University, and UC San Diego. She graduated from UC San Diego and earned an MA at San Diego State University and EdD at UC San Diego. (LUM DEI Office; BFSA Actions Beyond Words; LinkedIn.)