Emelyn A. Dela Peña

Emelyn A. dela Peña, a standard-bearer in higher education social justice leadership, was named Loyola Marymount University’s vice president for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on Dec. 1, 2021.

She brings to LMU 26 years of experience in higher education and a focus on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion scholarship, and practice. Most recently, she served as associate vice provost for Inclusion, Community, and Integrative Learning at Stanford University, a post she has held since 2019.

At Stanford, dela Peña embedded ethical leadership and equity principles in student engagement and transformed key policies and practices in student affairs. She also led campus-wide efforts to support DEI programs and initiatives that build awareness, capacity building, response, and healing, and drove committee work that addressed campus climate, promotion, and recruitment of diverse staff.