Meet a Retriever—Jacob Diaz, assistant vice president and dean of students, sees his role as developing a culture of care
One of the newest friendly faces recently spotted on campus is Jacob “Jake” Diaz, inaugural assistant vice president and dean of students in the Division of Student Affairs. Jake joined the UMBC community in May, bringing more than two decades of experience advancing student success, community well-being, and inclusive campus environments at public and private universities across the country. Diaz earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and both his Master of Education and Doctor of Education degrees from the University of Vermont. He is committed to developing a culture of care at UMBC, where students are part of a community filled with resources to help them thrive. He’s also excited to do this work with campus partners. How does he practice self care? What does he love about barbecuing? Read on!
Q: What is the dean of students’ role and what does it encompass?
A: As the dean of students I get to be a part of a team of educators who help students connect the dots of their experience at UMBC. Ultimately, my wish for every student is that they experience all that UMBC offers because it is quite a special place. My office is here to ensure students have the resources to feel supported, included, and empowered throughout their journey here.
Q: What do you love most about working with students?
A: I love to meet them as they begin their academic pursuits and to witness their growth into the human beings they are intended to be.
Q: What has excited you the most so far about being at UMBC?
Diaz hangs out with Renique Kersh, vice president for student affairs (center), and Wendy Low, coordinator in the Division of Institutional Equity, in the Welcome, Retrievers! hospitality tent’s ball pit.
A: I love that UMBC strives to center students each day. It makes me happy to work alongside colleagues who have a deep passion for supporting students. They inspire me to be better each day.
Q: What are your plans to connect and support undergraduate and graduate students and the campus?
A: My initial goals are to raise awareness about what the dean of students’ portfolio of services and programs is and to ensure that students know we are here for them.
Q: What is the importance of campus partnerships in your work?
A: I often think about how any shred of success I have in my role is dependent upon being in a high quality relationship with my colleagues. A dean of students cannot carry out their work in isolation so I would say that campus partnerships is number one for me.
Q: How do we support students in challenging times?
A: Being with a student when they are experiencing life’s challenges is a sacred moment. It is up to us to accompany them, provide resources such as our Retriever CARE team, and be really open to listening to their needs so that we can provide the right type of support to help them stay on track academically and socially. As dean of students, I am proud to connect UMBC students with comprehensive support services designed to promote holistic well-being. Whether in mental health support and basic needs to academic accommodations and inclusive community spaces, our campus offers a robust network of resources dedicated to helping every student thrive.
Q: As a leader, how important is self care to you and how do you practice it?
A: Self care is a topic I would love to talk with students about. It is a daily aspiration for me. My family is a source of support and I love to laugh, watch movies, walk outside and try new things. I plan to take a class to learn how to play pool! I am curious to know what students do for their own self-care.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
A: In my life outside of work I love fishing and BBQing. It’s fun to create new flavors of food on the grill. It’s also a relaxing process. Spending time with my daughter and wife is especially restorative for me.