Sonia Jurado Named AVP for Access & Equity, Title IX Coordinator

Dear Emerson Community,

I am pleased to share that Sonia Jurado will join Emerson as Associate Vice President for Access and Equity and Title IX Coordinator.  Sonia is an experienced attorney who has worked in higher education for over 10 years. She has extensive experience conducting investigations as well as expertise in writing policies in the area of employment and civil rights laws, including Title IX and other state and federal laws relating to discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence.  She brings extensive experience designing and delivering comprehensive training for faculty, staff, and students.  Sonia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola University in Chicago.

Sonia currently serves as Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.  As the inaugural director of that office, Sonia built a program to address issues of discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence between members of the faculty, staff, and student body.  Prior to her time at Brandeis, Sonia served in similar capacities at Wellesley College, Mount Ida College, and Tufts University.

At Emerson, Sonia will lead the Office of Access, Equity, and Title IX, broadening the scope to build processes that address discrimination, harassment, and all forms of interpersonal violence.  Sonia will serve as Title IX Coordinator and ADA/Section 504 Coordinator for the College. She will lead a team of two Deputy Coordinators/Investigators and a Program Coordinator. Searches to fill these three positions are either underway or will launch shortly.  These efforts will build on the work of former Associate Vice President Pamela White.

Sonia was selected from an extremely strong pool of highly qualified applicants. The college was fortunate to have brought three highly talented finalists for interviews with the campus community, and Sonia emerged as the clear choice by the members of the faculty, staff, and student body who interviewed her. Those who interviewed Sonia were impressed with her strong knowledge of Title IX and other applicable state and federal statutes, and her vision for working with the community to build strong and accessible procedures.

We are grateful for the time and energy contributed by the search committee chaired by Assistant Vice President for Student Success Sharon Duffy, and comprised of Emma Stoll ‘24, Interim Provost Jan Roberts-Breslin, Director of the Healing and Advocacy Collective Melanie Matson, Director of Community Standards and Student Conduct Julie Rothhaar-Sanders, Vice President & General Counsel Meredith Ainbinder, and Associate Provost Brooke Knight.  The College was assisted in the search by Gale Batchelder of the New Leadership Group. We would also like to thank the many students, faculty, and staff who participated in the interview process for the final candidates.

Sonia, who is originally from Chicago, has lived and worked in the Boston area since 2008.  She will join the Emerson community on May 9.  Please join me in offering a warm welcome to Sonia as she prepares to join us later this spring.

Take care,
Jim Hoppe
Vice President & Dean for Campus Life