SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco State University has named Jacob Perea to the newly created post of university dean for social justice initiatives. The university said he will oversee efforts to promote access and equity.

"While social justice is already extremely important to this university, we still have more to learn," Perea said. "I will be consulting faculty and staff across the board and proposing a model that will institutionalize social justice on campus. The goal is that recognizing differences, and dealing with them without fear, becomes common practice at SF State."

 Perea previously served for 12 years as dean of SF State's College of Education.

In his new post, the university said Perea will work closely with President Robert Corrigan, administrators, faculty and staff to integrate the values of access and equity into teaching, research and other aspects of campus life.

"In our most recent strategic planning process -- a grass-roots effort involving dozens of faculty, staff and students -- social justice and equity emerged as SF State's hallmark," Corrigan said. “As University Dean, Jake Perea will help us take our signature values forward, rooting them even more deeply in all that we do"

Perea joined SF State in 1977 as a professor of administration and interdisciplinary studies in the College of Education. In 1985, he co-founded the Step to College program at SF State to encourage disadvantaged students to attend and remain in college. Perea earned a bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University, a master's in education from SF State and an educational doctorate from University of California, Berkeley. His research has focused on Latino, African American and American Indian public school graduation rates and access to higher education.

Perea has received awards for his community work and serves on the board of number of organizations involved in social issues.

Perea will assume the role of university dean for social justice initiatives in January 2009 and will report directly to the President. A national search for the dean of the College of Education will begin later this month. In the interim, Associate Dean David Hemphill will be acting dean.