Diverstiy News | Community Diversity News
Director of Ethnic Affairs Named
December 14, 2007
The Department of Community and Culture has a new leader at the helm of Ethnic Affairs. Palmer DePaulis, executive director of the Utah Department of Community and Culture, announced the appointment of Jesse M. Soriano as the new director for the Department’s Office of Ethnic Affairs.
Mr. Soriano will oversee the programs and services of the Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Pacific Islander Affairs Offices, offices focused on partnering with other state agencies to ensure access and proper delivery of culturally competent state services to Utah’s ethnic community.
Mr. Soriano, appointed director of Hispanic/Latino Affairs in October 2007, soon after was asked to fill in as interim director for the Office when the director of Ethnic Affairs resigned.
“We are delighted to fill this critical post with someone of Jesse’s caliber,” said Mr. DePaulis. “He is a proven leader and an insightful advocate – strengths that will well serve Utah’s diverse ethnic communities.”
Mr. Soriano most recently served as the director of the Health Sciences Ethnic Minority Affairs Office at the University of Utah, where he was a former member of the School of Medicine Admissions Committee. He also held the position of program administrator for Weber State University’s Minority Community Programs Development and as senior specialist for the Educational Equity Center.