Silvester Mata

Silvester (Sly) Mata, Ph.D., currently serves as the Director of Community Education at the University of Virginia, overseeing educational programming focused on diversity, inclusion, equity, and custom workshops. Prior to this role, Silvester was the Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Ohio University, where initiatives were developed to enhance the success of diverse student populations. Previous experiences include serving as a Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Houston, the Associate Director for Academic Support and Diversity at Cornell University, and various positions at Texas A&M University, Arizona State University, and Gateway Community College, all focusing on student support and educational programming. Silvester holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Houston and advanced degrees in Public Service and Administration and Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University and Arizona State University, respectively.