Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Leaders in Institutional Equity
Emilio's career path to Assistant Provost of Institutional Equity was "non-traditional," starting with teaching and administration before transitioning into higher education roles focused on access and program development. Entry-level positions in this field include grant management, college access work, directing multicultural affairs, or even starting as a professor and moving into administration, with a doctorate potentially providing a "resume capability" advantage but not a requirement.
Higher Education Administration, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives, Grant Writing and Management, Program Development and Management, College Access
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Emilio Solano
Assistant Provost, Institutional Equity
Willamette University
Willamette University, 2009
Loyola Marymount University, Master of Arts, Urban Education: Policy & Administration and Lewis & Clark College, Doctorate of Education, Education Leadership
History, Art History
Education
Education
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level positions in the field of Institutional Equity and Diversity (DEI) are diverse and can include grant management, college access work, and directing campus centers focused on multicultural affairs or intercultural engagement.
2. Practical, on-the-ground experience working with people is highly valued and can be a strong asset when seeking these roles. A formal education or certificate in DEI is not always a strict requirement.
3. While a doctorate can enhance one's resume and scholarly credibility within academia, it's not mandatory for entry-level positions. There are various career paths leading to roles like Assistant Provost, Institutional Equity. Experience in access work, for instance, can serve as a strong stepping stone.
Transcript
What entry-level positions in this field might an undergraduate college student consider?
I feel like I had a non-traditional path to get here. I sometimes ask myself what I know about higher education. I was an 8th-grade teacher and then an assistant principal before taking over college access.
I had no idea about fundraising or grant writing. I knew I could build curriculum and programs, but I lacked experience in best practices for mentorship or grant writing. Despite this, I was able to get the job and learn on the go.
In my current role, I didn't have specific educational experience or a DEI certificate that you might expect. However, I knew I had the on-the-ground experience working with people to do this job.
If I'm thinking entry-level, there's plenty of work in DEI initiatives. This can include being a grant manager for DEI-related projects, college access work, or helping students access resources on campus. It can also involve running a center as a director of Multicultural Affairs or Intercultural Engagement. Many people start as professors and then move into these roles.
I did go back to school and get my doctorate in educational leadership. I think this theoretical background and writing a dissertation, which now considers me a scholar in some capacity, might have helped with resume capability or being seen as part of the academy. It's not necessary, but it likely helped when people were considering me for this role.
There are many different avenues for this type of work. I'm meeting with a new equity officer at the city level soon who needs support with strategic planning for their role. They also came from access work. There are many ways to get to this level; it's not always as linear as a professor becoming a provost.