Boulder Provost Russell Moore today announced that Dyonne Bergeron, acting vice provost and associate vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion, has informed him she will step down from the position effective Aug. 31, citing family health considerations.
“This was an extremely difficult decision,” said Bergeron. “I am honored to have served in a variety of leadership roles in service to students, faculty and staff. I am grateful for the professional relationships, partnerships and collaborations that have helped to cultivate meaningful change. I am grateful for the opportunity to have empowered a culture of care while uplifting the university’s mission.”
Moore said that progress has been palpable across the units in which Bergeron has served and led.
“In every place she has worked, in Student Affairs, ODECE, and other directorates in Academic Affairs, Dyonne has left things better organized, more focused and more human-centered than before she arrived,” Moore said. “She has been a vital, indispensable leader—a thinker, problem-solver and force for good in all places at all times. I could not be more grateful to her for her great work.”
Among Bergeron’s specific achievements, Moore cited:
- Created an anti-racism module for 6,300 incoming first-year students that explored racism both in the United States and at Boulder, highlighted at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).
- Provided the strategic vision for the Boulder campus climate survey to serve as the “primary climate survey” for all four campuses.
- Created the “Power of Community: Courage, Healing and Unity” initiative, recognized at the National Association of System Heads (NASH) 5th Annual Convening. The initiative was aimed to foster deep connections, provide cultural awareness, meaningful engagement, build campus community resilience and foster a campus climate that empowers and validates the experiences of faculty, staff and students.
- Created the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Inclusive Culture Team, which supports systemic institutional change for faculty, staff and student recruitment and retention efforts and serves as a DEI consultant to schools and colleges.
- Consistently fostered and advocated for equitable and inclusive practices through engaging in cross-campus collaborations, consultations, mediations, crisis management and high-impact educational opportunities.
Moore said he has appointed Christopher Pacheco to succeed Bergeron as acting vice provost assistant vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Pacheco currently serves as the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement’s assistant vice chancellor for pre-college outreach and engagement. “Chris’ experience working in ODECE and with students, parents and communities all over Colorado along with his long-standing presence as a respected leader at Boulder make him an ideal interim leader to continue ODECE’s important work,” Moore said.
Before her current role as acting vice provost and associate vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion, Bergeron served as Boulder’s assistant vice chancellor for inclusion and student achievement in ODECE, providing leadership and oversight for the Center for Inclusion and Social Change and overseeing the staff and faculty DEI Inclusive Culture Team.
She also served as an assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, overseeing the budget and management of eight Boulder departments that included the Dean of Students, University of Colorado Student Government, the Women’s Resource Center, the Gender & Sexuality Center, Cultural Unity & Engagement Center, the Volunteer Resource Center, Veteran Services and Career Services.
Before coming to Boulder, Bergeron served in a number of leadership roles at Florida Gulf Coast University, the University of South Florida, the University of Georgia and Louisiana State University.