The Latino and Hispanic Faculty Caucus is part of an ongoing and larger effort to ensure equity, full inclusion, and a diverse faculty presence here at USC.   The Latino/a and Hispanic Faculty Caucus uses the term “Caucus” because we see ourselves as part of a larger effort to advocate on behalf of those who self-identify as Latino and who have teaching, research, and/or staff responsibilities on the USC-Columbia campus.

The momentum to create the Latino/a and Hispanic Faculty Caucus began in October 2015, when USC’s Chief Diversity Officer, Dr. John Dozier, and Dr. Myriam Torres, scheduled a meeting for all Latino faculty to discuss the possibility of creating such an organization.  Faculty members, met on several occasions to draft a set of by-laws articulating the mission, structure, and name of the organization.

On February 29, 2016, Latino faculty met to discuss and solicit feedback on the proposed by-laws. Then, on April 14, 2016, the faculty met again to vote on the proposal. The by-laws were approved, and the organization was formed.

The inaugural Executive Board, listed below, was announced on September 9, 2016.

Inaugural Executive Board

Dr. Myriam Torres, Chair

Dr. David Cardenas, Vice Chair/Treasurer

Dr. Julia Lopez-Robertson, Secretary

Dr. Paula Vasquez, Member at Large

Dr. Toni Torres McGehee, Member at Large