Minnesota State College Southeast welcomes Dr. Pao Lee Vue, Ph.D. as the college's inaugural Director of Equity and Inclusion 

Winona, MN (June 16, 2021) -- Minnesota State College Southeast announces today the appointment of Dr. Pao Lee Vue as the college's first-ever Director of Equity and Inclusion. In this role, Dr. Vue will hold responsibility for leading equity initiatives across the college. He will serve as a member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team and will also have broad involvement for equity work in Academic Affairs and Human Resources. He will be involved in recruitment and retention efforts for students as well as for employees, and will serve as the college's Deputy Title IX Officer.  

"MSC Southeast is fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Pao Vue as our Director of Equity and Inclusion. He brings a strong track record of success in the field of diversity, with the student experience always at the forefront of his work," said Josiah Litant, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students. 

Pao Vue said he sees potential for the college's growth in terms of programming related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

"I hope to learn more about the campus communities and find out what students want to see, what faculty and staff are excited about," he said. "We need to recognize each of the heritage months, such as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, Black History Month, and Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, to let students know that we value and celebrate their identities." 

In addition, he said he plans to create a diversity academy for faculty and staff. "I would like to provide a training program for understanding race and pedagogy, safe zone training, serving students with disabilities, so that college employees have the opportunity for professional development on campus." 

Prior to joining the staff of MSC Southeast, Pao Vue served as the Director of Community Engagement and Diversity Initiatives at Nevada State College in Henderson, NV.  Previously he was the Director of Asian American and Multicultural Affairs at Minnesota State University, Mankato from 2017-2019, and prior to that he was a professor of sociology for ten years, at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY, and at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. 

Having grown up in the La Crosse area, Pao says he is excited to return to his roots in the upper Midwest. "I grew up in this area and missed the greenery and outdoor activities, like camping, fishing, and hiking." 

Dr. Vue holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the  University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where he specialized in Race & Ethnicity, Intersectionality, Law/Crime/Deviance. He earned a bachelor of science in sociology with a minor in political science at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The author of many peer-reviewed scholarly publications, including a book titled Assimilation and the Gendered Color Line: Hmong Case Studies of Hip-Hop and Import Racing, Dr. Vue has been invited to speak at colleges and universities and academic conferences across the country. 

"With background in both instruction and student affairs, Dr. Vue is uniquely positioned to support our efforts towards equity and inclusion inside and outside the classroom," said Josiah Litant. "The college will benefit tremendously from his passion, vision, creativity, and innovative approach as a leader in the field. We are delighted to welcome him to the college."