The university announced that LeManuel Lee Bitsóí has been selected as the new Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, according to an email sent by university president Ron Liebowitz to the Brandeis community on Jan 31. The announcement comes six months after the former Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Mark Brimhall Vargas left the position. 

“Lee is a skilled diversity, equity, and inclusion leader and administrator, and he will bring to Brandeis his extensive experience in collaborating with students, faculty, and staff to implement diversity-driven initiatives, policies, and programming,” wrote Liebowitz in his email. 

Bitsóí is set to take over the position on March 14, according to the email. Liebowitz asked the Brandeis community to join him, ”in introducing [Bitsóí] to our strong tradition of striving toward inclusion in all aspects of university life.” 

Bitsóí will be leaving his position at Fort Lewis College as Associate Vice President for Domestic Affairs and Special Advisor to the President for Indigenous Affairs to work at the university, according to the email. Bitsóí has been working at Fort Lewis College for over two years according to his LinkedIn profile, where he also served as the Director, Diversity Collaborative / Special Advisor to the President for Native American Affairs. 

At Fort Lewis College, Bitsóí has been, “responsible for campus-wide DEI programming in collaboration with other offices, faculty, staff and students,” wrote Liebowitz. In this position, Bitsóí also worked with senior leadership and oversaw the Diversity Collaborative Affinity Center at Fort Lewis College which supports affinity groups on their campus, according to their page. 

Bitsóí led the development of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan for Fort Lewis, according to Liebowitz’s email. Prior to working at Fort Lewis College, Bitsóí served as the Chief Diversity Officer at Stony Brook University for almost two years, according to his LinkedIn page. Cumulatively, Bitsóí has over 20 years worth of experience in higher education, according to a BrandeisNOW article. 

Bitsóí is a first-generation Native American (Navajo), according to Liebowitz’s email, he graduated from New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico. Bitsóí went on to receive a master’s from Harvard University and an Ed.D. in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania, according to the email.

Vargas announced his departure from Brandeis in May 2021, though he did not leave until July 2021, according to an address from the university’s Office of the President. The interim Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion position was filled by David M. Fryson who began in July 2021. 

The search committee to fill the position was led by Provost Carol Fierke and Harleen Singh, associate professor of literature and women’s, gender and sexuality studies (WMGS), wrote Liebowitz in the email. “We owe a debt of gratitude to the search committee for their tireless work toward identifying the right person for this important role,” he wrote in regards to the committee’s work. Other community members including: faculty, staff and students were a part of the committee and offered their assistance with the selection of candidates for the position. 

Liebowitz thanked Fryson for his work while serving as interim Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Liebowitz wrote that Fryson would remain at the university until mid-March when Bitsóí is set to begin.