Dr. Elizabeth Ortiz Bio
DePaul University

Elizabeth Ortiz joined DePaul University in 2002 and is currently the Vice President of Institutional Diversity and Equity. Prior to her work at DePaul she was the Director of Affirmative Action, Diversity and Employee Relations at Northern Illinois University. Her college and university experience spans over 20 years in both the public and private sector including the Chicago community college system. She has worked on diversity initiatives in several areas including recruitment, retention, training, programming, and climate issues for diverse students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Ortiz also has worked extensively in issues of higher education and in particular in raising awareness for Latino students, educators, community representatives and others who are committed to Latino representation and advancement in all aspects of higher education. She is a sought out consultant, lecturer, and workshop presenter on diversity issues and best practices.

Dr. Ortiz received her B.S. degree in Business Administration from Calumet College of St. Joseph's, a M.S. in Adult Continuing Education from Northern Illinois University (NIU), and an Ed.D at NIU. Her professional service includes serving on community and professional boards, which emphasize multiculturalism, and recruitment and retention initiatives for diverse student and workforce populations. She currently serves on the board of Diversifying our Faculties in Illinois Program, the Illinois African American and Latino Higher Education Alliance (IALHE), the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE), and is the President of the Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE).