Dr. Danielle Torres, currently Dean of Equity and Inclusion, has been selected to serve as the new Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Counseling (GSEC), and Community Dialogues Director.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Torres into the associate dean position,” said Andy Saultz, dean of the Graduate School. “Her background as a faculty member, expertise in fostering an equitable and inclusive environment and her deep commitment to the mission of the graduate school and the institution, make her an ideal leader for this role. I’m excited for the work we will do together to support the GSEC community.”
Added Saultz: “I also want to express my deep gratitude to outgoing Associate Dean, Dr. Janet Bixby, who was my professor when I was a graduate student. She has had an incredible impact on the graduate school during her 17-year tenure, and shaped so much of how I view teaching and leadership.”
In order to ensure a smooth transition, Torres will continue as Dean of Equity and Inclusion until January 2026. As Associate Dean, she will report directly to Saultz. The Community Dialogues Director remains a presidential appointment.
“While I will miss having Danielle as a member of my senior leadership team, I couldn’t be happier to have her carrying the ball forward as Director of the Community Dialogues initiative,” President Robin Holmes-Sullivan said. “Danielle has been an excellent steward of the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and I know she will bring a wealth of relevant experience to her new roles. I’d also like to express my gratitude to Danielle for agreeing to stay on as OEI Dean for the rest of the calendar year as I consider the best way to continue to advance Lewis & Clark’s equity and inclusion goals.”
In her role as dean, Torres has successfully implemented strategic initiatives and provided active oversight on meeting equity and inclusion goals for all students, staff, and faculty across the College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Education and Counseling, and Law School. She has supervised campus-wide compliance efforts for Title IX, Title VI, and bias reporting systems, ensuring fairness, care, and professionalism in all cases. She has also served as lead administrator in launching key initiatives including the President’s Native American Advisory Committee and the institution’s first comprehensive HEDS Diversity and Inclusion Climate Survey. She has dedicated significant time to consulting with staff, faculty, and students to enhance inclusive practices, strengthen ongoing recruitment and retention efforts for both students and employees, and lead community-building initiatives that foster a welcoming environment for work and learning.
Before leading the Office Equity and Inclusion, Torres was a tenured associate professor in the school counseling program at GSEC. She came to Lewis & Clark in 2004 as an assistant professor in the school counseling program and served as School Counseling Program Co-Director from 2005-2012. She was selected as Dean of Equity and Inclusion in May 2022.
“It has been an honor to be part of the Executive Council and to lead the institution’s equity and inclusion initiatives these past three years,” Torres said. “The work has felt important and central to the institution’s mission, and I have enjoyed the support of the President, colleagues and the L&C community. In my role as Dean, I have been fortunate enough to have been part of the Community Dialogues initiative from its inception and to be a thought partner to Janet, who so ably led the program.”
She added: “While it was not an easy decision, it was always my hope to eventually return to the Graduate School. So, when this opportunity presented itself, I knew I had to apply. I am particularly excited to be rejoining at this pivotal time and to be working with Dean Saultz on writing the school’s next chapters.”
As Associate Dean, Torres will be primarily responsible for overseeing a range of administrative and leadership duties, including managing student and faculty support and providing leadership in key campus committees. As the Community Dialogues Director, Torres will focus on strategic planning, financial oversight, and communication, building on the strong foundation created by her predecessor. Launched in January 2023, Community Dialogues is a signature presidential initiative with the goal of embedding healthy, constructive dialogue as a part of the institution’s identity and a foundation for how the community relates to each other.
Torres received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, from Pepperdine University. She was awarded her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oregon.
