Rich A. Salas, Ph.D. Bio
Des Moines University

Rich A. Salas, Ph.D. serves as the chief diversity officer at Des Moines University. DMU is a private graduate-level medical and health sciences institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. In this important role, Dr. Salas is responsible for multicultural programming and provides students/faculty/staff training in the area of cultural competency/cultural humility/structural competency across the university’s three colleges. Additionally, he has a long list of responsibilities that include building capacity in diversity, equity, and inclusion, campus climate, curriculum development, collaborations with both internal and external constituents, and facilitating trainings across the three colleges and ten-degree programs to advance the university’s DEI efforts.

Rich also holds a faculty appointment as assistant professor in the department of Behavioral Medicine, Medical Humanities and Bioethics in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. As a direct report to the president and part of the Executive Leadership Team at DMU, he has been in the position going on twelve years. In his tenure at DMU and the larger Des Moines community, he has been recognized with the President’s Leadership Award, the NAACP Outstanding Community Service Award, the MASAC Award of Excellence, and the Business Record DMS Magazine LGBTQI Ally Legacy Leader award. At the national level, Rich serves on the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Council (AACOM). In 2019, Rich was appointed and served as a Human Rights Commissioner for the city of West Des Moines for 4 years. Dr. Salas serves as a consultant, speaker, and facilitator locally, regionally, and nationally on topics related to cultural competency/humility, structural competency, and social justice and equity.

Prior to his arrival at Des Moines University, Rich served as the associate director of El Centro/Greek Life in the Division of Student Affairs at Colorado State University. In these dual roles, he provided leadership and support in the overall development and successful implementation of the office’s goals and objectives, both of which are focused on the recruitment, retention, leadership development and the transition of Hispanic/Latino graduate and undergraduate students at Colorado State University. While there, he was recognized with the Minority Distinguished Service Award, the Division of Student Affairs Impact Award, and Outstanding Faculty Advisor for Greek Life. In the larger Fort Collins, Colorado, community, Rich also served as the executive director of the Cinco de Mayo Festival, chairperson of the Cesar Chavez celebration and member of the Intercultural Community Builders Board of Directors. 

Dr. Salas is a graduate of the NADOHE Chief Diversity Officers Fellows program, and he completed the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education Standards of Professional Practice Institute in New York City. He earned his B.A. from the University of Northern Colorado (Spanish) and his master’s degree (human resources studies) and Ph.D. in educational leadership from Colorado State University.  Rich is also an accomplished musician and has played guitar professionally for over 35 years. His pride and joy are his family. He is married to Beatrice Silva-Salas and has three sons – Ernesto (33), Diego (27), Richy (23) – and his  princess, Danielle Alexis (18). His most important job is that of being a father, husband, and grandfather.