Register for the UC Tech Assembly: Black Leaders Panel:
- Monday, February 28
- 11:00 a.m. – noon
- Register now
This panel launches UC Tech Assembly series, which is expanding the former town hall series to better amplify the voices of UC Tech community members.
Our UC Tech community is diverse, and we all strive to create an inclusive environment at UC. A key part of being inclusive is listening to underrepresented voices. This UC Tech Assembly panel discussion will feature Black members of our UC Tech community from various levels of leadership. Topics will range from personal stories to allyship advice, to the value of diversity in tech. Time will be reserved at the end for a few questions.
Everyone is encouraged to attend to learn more about working in and supporting the diverse UC Tech community, and to celebrate Black History Month.
Moderator: Jeané Blunt, IT communications and UC FCC licensing coordinator, Information Technology Services, UC Office of the President.
Panelist Bios
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- Charron Andrus is associate chief information security officer at UC Berkeley. Her focus is on advocating for a diverse, inclusive, and equitable faculty, staff, and student body; and her passion is engaging in and creating meaningful relationships with community partners. Charron is co-founder of the Black Leadership Alliance Council at the University of California (BLAC@UC). She has served on campus and systemwide committees focusing on staff and equity, diversity, and inclusion. She served as a delegate to the UC Council of Staff Assemblies for two years and will conclude her term as an officer of the council in June 2022.
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- Al Covington is divisional manager of Human Resources in Information Technology Services at UC Santa Cruz, and has been in various HR roles at UCSC since 2014. He is the current Treasurer-Elect of UCSC’s Staff Advisory Board. Al has been committed to equity and inclusion throughout his career, and he hopes to continue having a hand in the adoption and growth of inclusive practices, policies, and procedures throughout the UC system.
- Carmen Robinson is the first program director for Student Excellence, Engagement, and Inclusion in the UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering. She is responsible for developing new programs and expanding existing ones that enhance the education and research experience for all students; improve four-year graduation rates; and decrease any “gaps” that exist between identifiable groups of students.
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- Van Williams is vice president of Information Technology Services and chief information officer for the University of California. He serves as the university’s chief IT leader and strategist, collaborating with campus and health CIOs, and other leaders across the UC system. Van also oversees IT related strategic priorities for the UC Office of the President (UCOP). Prior to UCOP, Van was the vice chancellor for Information Technology and Strategic Initiatives at UC Santa Cruz (UCSC). Van oversaw UCSC’s $800M technology organization, and led a staff of 250. Before joining the UC system, Van spent more than 15 years at New York University in various senior roles, including Chief Information Officer for NYU’s Stern School of Business. He has an MBA in finance, entrepreneurship and marketing from Stern, and a bachelor’s degree from NYU, where he majored in classical civilization and minored in chemistry. Van is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and believes higher education is a key driver toward the creation of a healthy society.