Air Force Academy hires Adis Maria Vila as diversity officer
The Gazette
November 11, 2010
The Air Force Academy has hired a Cuban-born attorney and international business executive to serve as its diversity officer, a position created last month after a cadet survey revealed ongoing religious, sexual and racial bias issues there.
Adis Maria Vila will implement the Academy’s diversity plan, work with Congress on diversity issues and promote diversity among students and faculty.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have been exposed to a very globalized business and academic world and I think I can help, and I want to help prepare these young men and women for what will be an ever increasing global mission,” she said by phone Wednesday from Winter Park, Fla., where she recently completed a scholar-in-residence program at Rollins College.
Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael Gould announced the position last month, after releasing a cadet survey that showed nearly half of non-Christian cadets polled said fellow students have a “low tolerance” for nonbelievers and 39 percent of women said they had experienced harassment or discrimination.