Mary Lomax-Ghirarduzzi

Mary Lomax-Ghirarduzzi is Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of the Pacific. She joined Pacific in 2021 as the university’s inaugural chief diversity officer, playing a pivotal role in shaping institutional DEI strategy.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree, University of the Pacific, 1989
• MA in Intercultural Counseling and Social Justice Education, San Diego State University
• EdD in Organizational Leadership, Pepperdine University

Her research and professional work center on diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, with deep expertise in organizational leadership, racial equity, and faith-informed social justice. She is a recognized national leader in advancing inclusive campus cultures and systemic change in academic institutions.

Lomax-Ghirarduzzi has received notable recognition for her contributions, including:

• Black History Month Legacy Award of Excellence
• Human Rights Defender for Gender Equality, San Francisco
• Named one of the Bay Area’s Most Influential Women by the San Francisco Business Times

She advises institutional leadership and leads strategic initiatives across Pacific. She is also an affiliate faculty member at the Race and Equity Center, University of Southern California, and serves as president of the Northern California chapter of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. Her work integrates scholarship, administration, and community engagement to promote equity in education.

She is actively involved in national DEI networks and contributes to advancing equity frameworks in higher education through leadership, consultation, and collaborative scholarship.