Dania Matos leads with love. As the fourth Vice Chancellor for the Division of Equity & Inclusion (E&I) at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), and a member of Chancellor Carol Christ’s Cabinet, she guides strategies that prioritize social justice, anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Specifically, she oversees E&I’s opportunities for students, staff, and faculty. Dania also leads divisional Thriving Initiatives, each of which offers culturally responsive services to specific communities across campus.
Dania has always championed equity work in the private, nonprofit, and government sectors, and has even taken her talents to Broadway. She was the first deputy chief diversity officer at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia; and served in Virginia's public defender’s office. Prior to coming to UC Berkeley, she was the first associate chancellor and chief diversity officer at the University of California, Merced.
Born in Puerto Rico, Dania is proud to have been raised by a single mom and grandmother–two women she credits for shaping her work, advocacy, and leadership style. She holds a J.D. from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law; and a BA from Brown University.