CU Names Judi Diaz Bonacquisti Senior Diversity Officer
DENVER – University of Colorado President Todd Saliman today named Judi Diaz Bonacquisti, Ed.D., senior diversity officer for CU’s system administration. She has more than two decades’ experience in public and private colleges and universities and a track record for advancing equity in education, particularly for students of color, first-generation students, and those from low-income families. She will begin her work at CU on Oct. 1.
“Judi is a leader who has made a substantial difference in every organization she has been a part of,” Saliman said. “Her deep experience and even deeper commitment to issues of equity and diversity make her the ideal person to help us achieve progress through collaboration as we work to reflect the diversity of Colorado.”
In her role as senior diversity officer, Diaz Bonacquisti will collaborate with CU campus colleagues to support initiatives that advance the diversity pillar of CU’s systemwide strategic plan, as well as campus strategic plans. She will advise the president and other leadership on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion and will work to help CU system administration to diversify its workforce and support a culture of belonging.
She will report to the president and serve as a member of his executive team.
Diaz Bonacquisti now serves as executive director of the Latinas First Foundation, which focuses on the cultural and historical contributions of Latinas to Colorado. The organization also provides scholarships, mentorships and networking opportunities to help foster a new generation of professional Latinas. She previously served as associate vice president for enrollment services at Regis University. Before that, she was vice president for enrollment administration and student success at Community College of Denver. She also served as associate vice president for enrollment services at Metropolitan State University of Denver, as well as director of the Minority Engineering Program at the Colorado School of Mines.
“I’m excited to join the CU team to help advance a priority that the university’s leadership has stated clearly and consistently is one of the most important challenges and opportunities facing the University of Colorado,” Diaz Bonacquisti said. “I look forward to working with President Saliman, the Board of Regents and my campus colleagues to further student success and a diverse, inclusive workforce.
“CU is at a critical moment in its history and I am keenly aware of the challenge of embedding diversity and inclusion into all aspects of the university’s work and culture.”
Diaz Bonacquisti was born and raised in Colorado and earned two degrees from CU, a doctor of education from CU Denver and a master’s in business administration from CU Colorado Springs. She earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Colorado State University.