Rate My Professor John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas

In his broader role as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for CT State Community College, Dr. Chaisson-Cardenas led systemic DEI integration efforts starting in fall 2023. These included separating human resources from EEO to establish checks and balances, unifying twelve disparate civil rights investigation processes into one standardized procedure, and developing databases to track student and staff disability accommodations. Outward-facing initiatives encompassed nurturing campus DEI committees, launching institution-wide climate surveys to assess belonging, and partnering with local, state, national, and international entities. Key programs featured the Mosaic Fellowship to boost underrepresented group representation in leadership, revamped staff and faculty orientations with DEI focus, professional development enhancements, and international higher education collaborations for student, faculty, researcher, and cultural exchange opportunities. Previously, Dr. Chaisson-Cardenas was State 4-H Program Leader at Iowa State University Extension, advancing diversity in youth development. He co-authored '4-H: A DEI Love Story – How Positive Youth Development Became a Battleground for Democracy' (2025), detailing DEI evolution in 4-H and land-grant university ecosystems domestically and abroad. A Guatemala native and survivor of civil war, he holds SHRM-SCP certification and participated in the CSCU Equity Council.