Dr. Sandra Daley,
Professor of Pediatrics, Named
Chief Diversity Officer at UC San Diego

January 8, 2007

By Paul K. Mueller

Dr. Sandra Daley has been named the new Associate Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) at the University of California, San Diego. Currently the assistant dean of Diversity and Community Partnerships and professor of pediatrics at UC San Diego’s School of Medicine, Daley begins work in her new post this week.

Dr. Sandra Daley is the new Associate Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer for UC San Diego. Currently the assistant dean of Diversity and Community Partnerships and professor of pediatrics at UCSD’s School of Medicine, Daley begins her new post this week.

She succeeds Dr. Jorge Huerta, professor of theatre, who returns to the classroom after completing a three-year appointment as associate chancellor and CDO.  

“With Dr. Daley as our new Chief Diversity Officer,” said Chancellor Marye Anne Fox, “we plan to keep diversity at the forefront of all discourse surrounding the university and its goals. Given her impressive track record in outreach and building relationships in community settings, I also expect her to play an important role in communicating and increasing collaborative efforts with a variety of community-based constituencies.”

Daley, who will serve as a liaison for the chancellor to the campus faculty, staff and students on various diversity efforts and issues, will also be responsible for coordinating the university’s commitment to, and implementation of, diversity throughout the institution.

“So much has already been accomplished,” said Daley,” and yet there is still much to be done. Diversity on our campus is not limited to policies and procedures, but also embraces issues of gender, age, culture, persons with disabilities, sexual orientation and so much more. Working with our chancellor and the campus community to promote diversity and disseminating information locally and statewide about our efforts and successes will be at once challenging and exciting.”

Daley, who received her medical degree from UCSD’s School of Medicine and did her training in pediatrics there, has played an active role in recruiting Latino/Latina and African-American students and faculty to UCSD.  As assistant dean of Diversity and Community Partnerships since 1995 and a member of the School of Medicine faculty since 1990, Daley has crafted and implemented a number of academic-enrichment programs aimed at helping  disadvantaged middle, high school, community college and undergraduate students to pursue health and science careers. In School of Medicine programs such as the Hispanic Center of Excellence, Daley has worked to retain and recruit students and faculty from underrepresented Hispanic ethnic groups.

Under Daley’s leadership, university-community partnerships have evolved into major initiatives at UCSD’s School of Medicine. UCSD was the first school of medicine in the nation to receive a Community Outreach Partnership Center award from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. The UCSD School of Medicine has also established the San Diego EXPORT Center, a major initiative funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, which focuses on research, education and training of students, faculty and community-based health care providers on minority health issues.

Daley also practiced in a community clinic in San Diego for more than 13 years and taught pediatric residents at a Tijuana hospital.

At the School of Medicine, Daley has played a pivotal role in the leadership and expansion of a new program—Medical Education-Health Equity -- designed to increase the number of clinicians, research scientists, and advocates to address minority health and health disparities.

“As an educator and physician, Dr. Daley has a comprehensive and intimate understanding of the changing demographics of our population,” said Chancellor Fox. “This expertise will facilitate her ability to develop innovative strategies for enhancing diversity at UCSD.”

Media Contact: Paul K. Mueller, 858-534-8564