Office Hires Community Engagement Chief

Raúl Hinojosa recently joined the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement to help promote awareness and educate students, faculty and staff about the importance of diversity at UT Dallas.

Hinojosa is the office’s new director of community engagement.

In the new position, Hinojosa will work to increase understanding about the University’s academic programs, new initiatives, and financial aid and scholarship opportunities.  He works closely with the University’s Office of Enrollment Services and with local school district staffs, students and parents.

“It’s exciting to be part of an office that is focused on helping increase the access and success of students who traditionally have been underrepresented in higher education,” Hinojosa said.  “It’s clear to me that the University’s leadership, faculty and staff are committed to ensuring that UT Dallas is an institution that welcomes a range of ideas, backgrounds and perspectives.”

Dr. Magaly Spector, vice president for diversity and community engagement and head of the office, noted the importance of hiring strong, dedicated team members.

“The success of our office will be based on our ability to culturally engage UT Dallas and the rest of the community,” Spector said.  “It is important for us to hire leaders who will help prepare our students, in particular, for their next steps into the global community.”
  
Hinojosa comes to UT Dallas from the University of North Texas where he worked for eight years as the coordinator of recruitment, and community and school relations for UNT’s Dallas campus.  

He is an alumnus of UNT, receiving his bachelor’s degree and master’s in public administration from the school.  He is currently enrolled in the doctoral program in public affairs at UT Dallas.

Spector said that in the coming months, her staff will be building a plan that will include four areas of focus as they relate to diversity:

• University access, particularly for underrepresented populations.
• Retention, promotion and graduation — including improving graduation rates for underrepresented populations and attracting and promoting diverse faculty.
• Improving the institutional climate, including encouraging discussion and dialog among different groups.
• Education/training, which might involve the creation of a diversity course for students and diversity training/awareness classes for faculty and staff.