Over the past decade, the University of Texas at Austin has had its share of headlines related to cases of racial insensitivity and minority access, particularly after the Hopwood v. State of Texas case, which banned the use of race in college admissions in the Lone Star State. But perhaps symbolic to the university’s commitment to diversity, Dr. Gregory J. Vincent was hired in 2005 as vice provost for inclusion and cross-cultural effectiveness. And this past May, he was promoted to vice president for diversity and community engagement, a new position that reports directly to university president William Powers Jr. 

Vincent has held several university positions over the years, and he says he decided to enter the realm of higher education because of what he saw as attacks on minority access to elite institutions. This former corporate and civil rights attorney has big plans for UT, starting with holding the academic leadership accountable for the recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty and student body.

DI: What is your strategy for improving diversity at UT? What are the problems, and how do you intend to address them?

GV: The challenges facing the University of Texas are making the university accessible to first-generation, low-income and underrepresented students; recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and work force; and helping students take advantage of the diverse opportunities available at the university. We plan to address these challenges by creating the Division for Diversity and Community Engagement and by holding the academic leadership — provost, deans, department chairs and faculty — accountable for recruiting and retaining a diverse student body and faculty.

DI: If you could wave a magic wand and change something in an instant about diversity in this country, what first comes to mind?