<div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Dear WFA Colleagues, </div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">I extend my appreciation to the WFA leadership for inviting me to provide a statement to the membership. I wanted to send a brief reminder that I will be holding another in a series of open candidate office hours today from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Don't hesitate to drop by! Just use this link:</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81174548734" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81174548734</a></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">For your convenience, i have also attached my statement to the WFA as well as the complete version of my Senate candidate statement below.</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Peace </div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">dylan</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><u>Candidate statement to WFA membership</u></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><p style="color:rgb(32,31,30);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;margin:0px;height:auto"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Underrepresentation of women among UCR faculty, along with the persistence of informal, unrecognized barriers to promotion and long-term retention, are distressingly <i>normalized</i> in
our institutional culture. This is both reprehensible and unsustainable. I have consistently worked with and in support of women faculty at UCR to address these issues in direct, collective ways. Colleagues can attest to my principle, consistency, and integrity
on these issues during my time as Chair of Ethnic Studies, term as President of the American Studies Association, two previous terms as Senate Chair, and current position as Co-Director of the Center for Ideas and Society.<span style="margin:0px"> </span></span></p>
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<span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A recent and current example of my commitment and seriousness on issues regarding gender equity:<span style="margin:0px"> </span>since Fall 2021 i have been co-leading (with Prof.
Donatella Gallela) a directed strategic discussion on recruitment and retention of women, LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented faculty through the Faculty Commons project at Center for Ideas and Society. We are building a collective analysis of the problems at
stake, which include (but are not limited to):</span></p>
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<li style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;height:auto;margin-left:0.00104px"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Maldistribution of departmental, college, and university service onto women faculty and other underrepresented faculty members
at all levels, but particularly at the Associate Professor levels;</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;height:auto;margin-left:0.00104px"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The stubborn, ongoing institutional crisis of women faculty at the Associate Professor rank being asked/compelled to assume
various burdens (including numerous “unrecognized” forms of institutional labor/service) that<span style="margin:0px"> </span>inhibit their progress to Full Professor;</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;height:auto;margin-left:0.00104px"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Lack of robust dialog and information at the administrative level (including Deans and the Academic Personnel office/VPAP)
regarding the complex, nuanced conditions that both 1) inhibit the advancement of women faculty at UCR and 2) result in departures by women faculty for positions at other research universities (often with promotions to Full Professor);</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;height:auto;margin-left:0.00104px"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Resultant lack of a large pool of senior women faculty who could serve on CAP; and</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;height:auto;margin-left:0.00104px"><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The need for <i>full transparency </i>regarding salary equity within and across ranks in every
college and school.</span></li></ul>
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<span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Importantly, the effort i’m describing has formulated a strategy that will culminate in a series of directed conversations with the VPAP (Dan Jeske) and Provost this Spring. We are
pushing for changes to The Call as well as a more substantive, long-term agenda to address the problems WFA has been raising and addressing, among many others. </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt">I am committed to making
use of the office of Senate Chair to think and plan alongside WFA to accelerate institutional changes that center, rather than marginalize, the experiences and concerns of women faculty at UCR. And, my track record shows that when i commit to something, i
follow through!</span></p></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><u>Full version of Senate candidate statement</u></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Dylan Rodríguez</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">candidate statement for Chair of UCR Academic Senate</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"> <span style="white-space:pre"> </span>I embrace the possibility of serving you as Chair of the UCR Academic Senate with a sense of urgency and gravity. My record of leadership and service stretches across the campus (2+ terms as a department chair, Co-Director of Center for Ideas and Society), UC systemwide (former Senate Chair, Chair of UC-HBCU Initiative, former member of UC Press Editorial Committee) and national contexts (most recently, 2020-2021 President of the American Studies Association). My work thrives on an unshakeable commitment to defending and advancing the interests of faculty and students in the face of institutional trends that threaten our collective well-being as well as our ability to fulfill our potential as a one-of-a-kind, top tier public research institution.</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Over the course of 20+ years as a faculty member here, i have learned to appreciate that our Senate Chair is charged with representing the interests of the UCR faculty to the entire University of California system, including the the UC Board of Regents, UC President and Provost, systemwide UC Senate, and Senate Chairs from every other UC campus. Fulfilling this responsibility requires a strength of principle and commitment that transcends individual disciplines, builds coalitions and collaborations across colleges and schools, and reflects the creative and scholarly distinctiveness of our faculty and students.</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">These characteristics define my institutional leadership skill set, built and earned over more than two decades at UCR. I will enjoy every opportunity to place my skills at your disposal.</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">During times of institutional growth and internal tension, the Chair of the UCR Senate must fully accept the obligation to defend and advance a strong, practical, consistent interpretation of “shared governance.” The Senate faculty (that’s us!) must play a primary (rather than corollary or superficial) role in shaping UCR’s immediate future, including:</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"> </div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">●<span style="white-space:pre"> </span> responding to administrative plans for significant undergraduate population growth at UCR—approximately a 50% increase to “35,000 undergraduates by 2035” (see p. 32 of the 2021 UCR Long Range Development Plan);</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">●<span style="white-space:pre"> </span> reviewing and legislating new undergraduate majors, graduate degree programs, and departments, including the proposed Department of Black Study and Department of Environment, Sustainability, and Health Equity;</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">●<span style="white-space:pre"> </span> improving UCR’s graduate student support and funding infrastructure;</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">●<span style="white-space:pre"> </span> addressing inferior, unhealthy, and sometimes decrepit classroom, lab and building conditions;</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">●<span style="white-space:pre"> </span> meaningfully consulting on administrative reviews and hires;</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">●<span style="white-space:pre"> </span> rigorously interpreting and practicing UCR’s diversity and equity mission;</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">●<span style="white-space:pre"> </span> vigorously defending academic freedom; and</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">●<span style="white-space:pre"> </span> fulfilling the University of California Academic Senate’s obligation to “exercise direct control over academic matters of central importance to the University.”</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"> </div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">I believe the Academic Senate must be leveraged by the faculty to address the foundational crisis in our midst: UCR is a top tier public research university where the research mission is under duress, due in large part to structural inequities in the University of California system. Addressing this foundational problem will require 1) the strongest possible advocacy from our Senate Chair, 2) sustained faculty empowerment and 3) strategic collaboration with our campus administration, including our Deans, Provost, and Chancellor. </div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">I am well prepared to undertake this work and cherish the possibilities of expanding faculty involvement in shaping our collective institutional conditions.</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"> <span style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Finally, i invite you to drop by any of my upcoming candidate office hours (held via Zoom) on the dates and times listed below. This way, you can feel free to ask me direct questions about anything you like, and i will respond with full transparency, as has been my consistent leadership practice.</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"> </div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Please use this link:</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81174548734">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81174548734</a></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"> </div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Wednesday, March 23, 10:00-11:30 am</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Thursday, March 24, 10:00-11:30 am</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Friday, March 25, 9:00-10:30 am</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Monday, March 28, 1:00-2:30 pm</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Wednesday, March 30, 10:30-11:30 am</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Friday, April 1, 9:00-10:30 am</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Monday, April 4, 10:00 am-12:00 pm</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Tuesday, April 5, 10:00 am-12:00 pm</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Thursday, April 7, 9:00-10:30 am</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"> </div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Until i meet you again, i hope you will take the opportunity to vote in this UCR Senate election with our collective progress in mind.</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"> </div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">Peace</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto">dylan</div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585new_signature" dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div style="color:rgb(87,87,87)"><font size="2"><br></font></div><div style="color:rgb(87,87,87)"><font size="2">Dylan Rodríguez</font></div><div style="color:rgb(87,87,87)"><font size="2">Co-Director, Center for Ideas and Society </font></div><div style="color:rgb(87,87,87)"><font size="2">Past President, American Studies Association</font></div><div style="color:rgb(87,87,87)"><font size="2">Professor, Department of Media and Cultural Studies </font></div><div style="color:rgb(87,87,87)"><font size="2">University of California at Riverside </font></div><div style="font-size:85%;color:#575757"></div></div></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><div id="m_-1199115283147249585line_space" dir="auto"><br></div></div></div></div>