On Wednesday, UT President Gregory Fenves announced that Leonard Moore, history professor, would serve as vice president for diversity and community engagement, effective July 1. Moore has served as the interim vice president since last July and was appointed to the position after a nationwide search to fill the role.

The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement oversees UT’s inclusion of diverse voices and manages programs dedicated to creating a more inclusive campus culture, such as the Campus Climate Response Team and the Office for Inclusion and Equity.

“Moore has been a vital contributor to DDCE for many years,” Fenves said in an email announcing Moore’s appointment. “He understands its purpose and potential, and he has a strong vision. He will help The University of Texas at Austin grow and develop for the benefit of current and future Longhorns and the people of Texas.”

Moore also worked as the senior associate vice president for diversity and community engagement from 2013 to 2017. During his time in that position, the department was one of 13 U.S. universities honored as a 2016 Diversity Champion by INSIGHT Into Diversity, a national magazine that promotes diversity in higher education.

On the DDCE’s website, Moore said his goal is to partner with others across UT to increase the number of low-income, underrepresented and first-generation college students who attend and graduate from UT.

“My goal is to build upon that legacy by placing a strong emphasis on campus climate issues,” Moore said on the website. “It involves engaging across the city and state with communities that produce these amazing students. I am looking forward to making a difference in the lives of students, faculty, and staff at one of the finest public research institutions in the nation.”