Doris I. Cancel-Tirado, Ph.D. on the left. Dominique Vargas on the right.

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University proudly announces that two of its outstanding leaders, Dominique Vargas, executive director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Professor of Health & Exercise Science Doris I. Cancel-Tirado, Ph.D., have been selected for esteemed positions in two distinct cohorts within the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) programs.

Dominique Vargas has been selected to participate in the fifth cohort of the 2023-24 Fellows of HACU’s Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo, a prestigious honor that underscores her commitment to leadership excellence and her dedication to advancing diversity and inclusion in higher education. The program is designed to increase diverse representation in executive and senior-level positions in higher education. Ana Karaman, Ph.D., vice president of finance and administration, was part of the previous year’s group of fellows.

“I appreciate Western’s support in engaging in this fellowship opportunity to promote my personal and professional development to help me better serve our community, especially as Western strengthens our commitment to being a more diverse and inclusive university to learn and work at,” says Vargas.

Doris I. Cancel-Tirado, Ph.D., has been chosen to take part in the highly anticipated inaugural cohort of the Enlace Mid-level Leadership Program, a groundbreaking initiative by HACU for mid-level college and university professionals designed to increase the number, variety, and quality of Latino/a/é talent in leadership positions at Hispanic-Serving Institutions and in higher education overall.

“I am deeply honored and excited to have been chosen for this remarkable opportunity. This initiative perfectly aligns with my passion for advancing the success of Hispanic/Latiné/Latinx students in higher education. I am committed to furthering diversity and inclusion, not only in our institution but also in the broader landscape of higher education,” shares Cancel-Tirado.

These selections reflect Western’s commitment to nurturing exceptional talent and supporting the professional development of its dedicated staff members. Vargas and Cancel-Tirado exemplify the university’s core values and its mission to foster inclusivity and excellence in higher education.

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, founded in 1856 in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university. Serving about 4,000 students, WOU is a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution with about 70% of the student population being from Oregon. A significant portion of attendees are members of under-represented groups, veterans, or non-traditional students. WOU is Oregon’s campus of choice for those seeking a transformative education in a supportive, student-centered learning community where classes are taught by faculty. Together we succeed.