Castañeda Named SBS Associate Dean for Equity, Inclusion

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The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) has appointed Mari Castañeda, professor of communication, to the newly created position of associate dean for equity and inclusion.

The new position includes oversight of efforts to internationalize the SBS student and faculty experience, which was initiated by Amel Ahmed in her previous role as director of diversity advancement.

In 2010, Castañeda was the first director of diversity advancement in any college on campus. She has served as a Chancellor’s Leadership Fellow and chair of communication and will continue as chair through the fall semester. She will be fully engaged as associate dean by the spring 2019 semester.

SBS dean John A. Hird says, “This is a critical position for the college, particularly in these tumultuous times, so I’m particularly pleased that someone of Mari’s talents and accomplishments will play an important leadership role for us all.”

Castañeda’s research interests include the study of digital media and telecommunication policy, Latina/ethnic media studies, and global communications. Her work promotes “engaged scholarship” and aims to address inequality, power, community voices, and the role of intersectionalities in shaping media and cultural spaces.

Her recent co-edited books include “Civic Engagement in Diverse Latinx Communities: Learning From Social Justice Partnerships in Action,” “Mothers in Academia” and “Soap Operas and Telenovelas in the Digital Age: Global Industries and New Audiences.”

Castañeda is also affiliated with the Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latina/o Studies; women, gender, sexuality studies; and the School of Public Policy.