The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has hired Elizabeth Martinez-Podolsky to serve as its first director of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She will join the college on May 24. 

Martinez-Podolsky has served as the director of multicultural student success in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the Iowa State University since 2015. 

In her new role, Martinez-Podolsky will build, strengthen, and further define the diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies across the college. She will work closely with the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and leaders across all areas of the college to effectively leverage initiatives, resources and tools, and track progress against ongoing strategic initiatives.

“As a leader, champion, change agent, and subject matter expert, she will help advance our efforts to cultivate an environment where everyone is welcomed, valued, and included,” Interim Dean Laura Molgaard says.  

Martinez-Podolsky has been a valuable resource to her college and university administration at Iowa State. She has helped plan campus programming to meet the needs of diverse student populations, helped create multiple diversity trainings for faculty and staff, and has worked with campus partners on strategic planning in areas of DEI. She also is currently a doctoral student in the Higher Education Administration program at Iowa State.