Michael Goh named U of M vice president for equity and diversity

Michael Goh, Ph.D. has been appointed vice president for equity and diversity at the University of Minnesota, pending approval by the Board of Regents at its September meeting. Goh has served as interim vice president for equity and diversity since October 2017.

“Dr. Goh is known for his gracious yet determined style and for his strong drive to build authentic, collaborative working relationships with diverse partners and communities,” said University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler. “I am confident that he will continue to foster and champion a systemwide University community that values and actively supports equity, diversity and inclusion.”

Goh has been part of the University of Minnesota community for nearly 25 years. Through his experiences as a doctoral student, faculty member, associate vice provost for equity and diversity and interim vice president for equity and diversity, he has gained a deep and broad knowledge of the University’s opportunities and challenges. He has also prioritized strengthening connections between the University and communities throughout Minnesota.

Goh’s commitment to inclusive excellence runs deep. In his roles as an inaugural U of M multicultural teaching and learning fellow and President’s distinguished faculty mentor, Goh promoted multicultural access, education and mentoring to help underrepresented students succeed in higher education. His numerous awards for research, teaching, service and leadership by local, state, national and international associations reflect his community- engaged, scholar-practitioner approach to solving grand challenges.

In addition to his administrative leadership positions, Goh is a professor in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development in the College of Education and Human Development. A distinguished scholar and teacher, his focus on multicultural counseling, intercultural competence and cultural intelligence brings an interdisciplinary lens to equity, diversity and inclusion work as well as the unique and vital skills for this key senior leadership position.

The University launched a national, comprehensive search for the University systemwide position of Vice President for Equity and Diversity. “I want to thank the hundreds of University staff, students and faculty who attended in person or online to participate and hear from and engage with the two finalists for the position,” said Kaler. “I also thank the search committee, under the leadership of Law School Professor and Associate Dean for Information and Technology Joan Howland and Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Education Scott Lanyon for their work throughout this process.”