The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is composed of staff members who are committed to their work to advance and exceed diversity goals at the College to enhance the veterinary profession.

Associate Dean for Admissions, Student Life, and Inclusivity

Hilda Mejia Abreu, MS, PhD, joined the College as assistant dean for the Offices of Admissions, Scholarships, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in January 2016.

Mejia Abreu received her bachelor's and master’s in public policy from the University of Massachusetts at Boston. She received her PhD in higher education administration from Michigan State University. She was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. Mejia Abreu has extensive experience working in the areas of enrollment management, student affairs and services, cultural competency, and the technology industry.

During her tenure at The University of Texas Health Science Center as associate dean for Admissions and Student Services, she developed and implemented recruitment strategies and tactics that increased enrollment. She was responsible for leading the Committee on Faculty and Student Matters, also known as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Mejia Abreu knows that diversity and inclusion do not occur by accident.

“We have to create the framework to meet diversity goals. The first step toward meeting the College’s diversity goals is to create a culture of mutual respect that welcomes students, staff, and faculty in an environment where each of us can grow successfully. I see my role as one of cheering and nurturing the community and external stakeholders, and growing strong relationships at the local, national, and global levels.”

Mejia Abreu believes that diversity and inclusion are necessary for innovation, and when we provide access to and cultivate an environment that is inclusive of diversity of students, faculty, and staff to the veterinary profession and education, it is a winning situation for humanity.

Consultant

Sanchez was born and raised in Colombia, where she worked as a surgical professor for the Cordoba University School of Veterinary Medicine for 14 years. Sanchez earned her DVM from Cordoba University. Post-DVM graduation, she completed an internship residency in small animal medicine and surgery at Autonomus University of Mexico. She then traveled to Murcia University in Spain to earn her PhD in Orthopedic Surgery, followed by the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine for a small animal surgery international fellowship.

Currently, Sanchez teaches anatomy in the College's Enrichment Summer Program and pre-clinical curriculum.