Eduardo Pazos named new Vice President for Community and Belonging
St. Olaf College President Susan Rundell Singer has announced the appointment of Eduardo Pazos as the college’s new vice president for community and belonging. He will assume the role on August 1.
Pazos comes to St. Olaf from Bowdoin College, where he serves as the assistant dean of student affairs for identity and culture as well as the director of the Center for Multicultural Life. His first role at Bowdoin was serving as the director of the Rachel Lord Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. Earlier in his career, Pazos worked with immigrant families in Texas as a pastor and chaplain, where he led a Spanish-speaking ministry and counseled students and parents in moments of crisis.
“Part of what makes Eduardo a great fit is his passion for people and his belief that strong communities are formed by making space for difference,” Rundell Singer says. “Eduardo brings a dynamic and diverse range of expertise and experience to the role that aligns beautifully with our mission. He has developed a high level of cultural competency by working both within and outside of higher education.”
As the vice president for community and belonging, Pazos will oversee a team that includes the TRIO college preparation and access programs (Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound); the Glenn and Myretta Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion; the St. Olaf Posse Foundation cohort; Title IX/Section 504; and Bias Reporting. He will also be supported by a team of advisors across campus who are rooted within their own divisions.
“Part of what makes Eduardo a great fit is his passion for people and his belief that strong communities are formed by making space for difference.”
St. Olaf President Susan Rundell Singer
Pazos earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston Baptist College and a master’s degree in religion from Yale University, and he is currently working on his Ph.D in leadership and organizational management from the University of Southern Maine. He also holds certifications in building a diverse workforce from Cornell University and mental health first aid from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
“I am thrilled to start this new role and join the St. Olaf community,” Pazos says. “My interactions with members of the search committee, the President’s Leadership Team, President Rundell Singer, students, faculty, and staff have all been really welcoming and encouraging throughout the whole interview process. It makes me even more excited to get there and to get to know as many members of the St. Olaf community as possible.”