Dr. J. Luke Wood has been appointed to serve on the California Racial Equity Commission, the state's Senate Rules Committee. Wood will serve a two-year term.
Dr. J. Luke Wood
Wood is currently vice president for student affairs and campus diversity and chief diversity officer (CDO) at San Diego State University (SDSU). In the role, he led the creation of new cultural centers, such as the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Resource Center (APIDA), the Latinx Resource Center, the Native Resource Center, and the Undocumented Resource Center.
He has previously been co-director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL); director of the joint Ph.D. program in education between SDSU and Claremont Graduate University; and director of the Ed.D. Program in Community College Leadership.
Joining Wood is Candis Bowles, a Southern California attorney. The commission – created under Gov. Gavin Newsom – is tasked with producing a Racial Equity Framework of resources to promote racial equity and address structural racism. The commission will recommend ways to advance racial equity and help state agencies update policies and practices.
“Candis Bowles and Luke Wood are leaders in promoting racial equity and addressing structural racism in their respective fields, their guidance will enrich the Racial Equity Commission’s charter to provide racial equity guidance to state agencies,” said committee chair Toni G. Atkins, Senate president pro tempore. “Dr. Wood has devoted his career to researching and implementing policies to advance diversification and equity initiatives at schools, colleges, and universities.
“Together, they will play critical roles in developing a Racial Equity Framework to address the structural and systemic racism still present in our state.”
Wood holds a B.A. in Black history and politics and a master's degree in higher education from the California State University Sacramento; and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Arizona State University.
