Editor's note: This announcement from CU Anschutz Chancellor Don Elliman was published June 22 in his Chancellor's Communiqué.
Dear colleagues:
It is my privilege to announce the appointment of Regina D. Richards, PhD, MSW, as Associate Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement for the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, effective July 1, where she will focus on expanding our initiatives both on the campus and in the community with primary drivers of health equity, outreach and support.
Regina will report to me and work closely with the Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion for CU Denver I Anschutz once that search has been successfully completed. She will also work in collaboration with Dominic Martinez, Senior Director of the Office of Inclusion and Outreach at CU Anschutz and Nelia Viveiros, Interim Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion for CU Denver | Anschutz, as well as Theodosia Cook, Chief Diversity Officer for the CU system. Regina will also co-lead our efforts with Neil Krauss in working with community nonprofits, hospital partners and other organizations in the greater Aurora area to ensure we are effectively delivering critical support and care to our neighbors.
“I’m thrilled to join Chancellor Elliman and the leadership team across campus to help expand our endeavors in building a broader community that thrives on inclusion and engagement, and strives to eliminate social and health disparities,” said Richards. “With their support, there is so much more we can do to make an impact at CU Anschutz and throughout our community.”
Regina has served CU Anschutz for more than two decades, and her service to our broader campus community began in 1996. Since 2009, she has served as the inaugural director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in the CU School of Medicine. Regina also holds an appointment as an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine, and her previous roles in higher education and healthcare included positions with Children’s Hospital Colorado and CU Medicine. She is also a community social worker who upholds and values building external community partnerships, including 2040 Partners for Health, the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, and the Denver Broncos Boys & Girls Club.
Over the last 11 years, Regina has overseen diversity initiatives and planning in the CU School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Life. She co-mentored the Student National Medical Association, White Coats for Black Lives student group, Latino National Medical Association, and Minority and Ally Resident Committee, and mentored students in Mentored Scholarly Activity Programs. She developed the Race in Medicine elective and co-teaches in the Leadership Education Advocacy Development track. Regina has worked in partnership with deans, faculty and administrators to develop recruitment, retention and talent management strategies, as well as coached colleagues on career and academic advising, and led diversity and bias training for faculty, staff, students and residents.
Under her leadership, student interest groups for first-generation and underrepresented students have contributed to retention for underrepresented minority students. In partnership with the School of Medicine Office of Student Life and Office of Admissions, underrepresented minorities have comprised 25-27% of admitted medical school classes annually over the past seven years. Regina is a co-founder of the Faculty Department Diversity Leadership Group and diversity retention program University of Colorado Organization for Racial and Ethnic Support, and she co-chairs the Dean’s Diversity Council.
We look forward to building on the foundation of strength Regina has helped put into place on our campus, and to developing new initiatives that make an impact across our greater community.
Please join me in welcoming Regina to this new role.
Don Elliman