Kansas University has named longtime administrator and educator Fred Rodriguez to the newly created position of vice provost for diversity and equity.

Rodriguez had already been serving in a similar role since 2009 as interim associate vice provost for diversity and equity.

“We’re excited to elevate the status of this position, and we couldn’t ask for a better person to assume the role than Fred,” said Provost Jeff Vitter in a statement. “We look forward to Fred’s continued leadership and expertise in making KU a more diverse and inclusive community.”

Rodriguez will earn $175,000 annually in his new role. Rodriguez said the position is mainly focused on diversity on the faculty and staff levels but could soon branch out to include efforts on the student level as well.

He will be tasked with fostering a supportive university environment for inclusiveness and diversity, coordination of diversity and multicultural initiatives and developing evaluation methods and implementing systems of accountability to promote diversity plans and programs.

“I know what the position entails, and it’s kind of fun to think about the difference we can all make on campus to make things more inclusive for everyone,” he said.

Rodriguez, an associate professor in the School of Education’s department of curriculum and teaching, serves as the director of KU’s Multicultural Scholars Program and the Professional Development Schools Alliance.

He has served in the past as director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and as interim education dean.