School of Visual Arts (SVA) Provost Dr. Christopher J. Cyphers announces the appointment of Andrew “Dru” Alvez, Sr. as director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for the College, effective Monday, July 1, 2024. Alvez comes to SVA from Union College, the second-oldest institution of higher education in New York State, where he simultaneously held the positions of chief diversity officer for Student and Institutional Success and director of Intercultural Affairs. Previously at Union, he simultaneously held the positions of assistant director of Intercultural Affairs and chief diversity officer for Student Affairs.

As part of his role at SVA, Alvez will lead SVA’s DEI Task Force, formed in 2018 and comprising members of the College’s academic and administrative leadership and staff. The Task Force prioritizes addressing inequities in the experiences of SVA’s community members and fosters antiracist progress on campus.

With Alvez at the helm, the DEI Task Force will also continue the long-term goals laid out in the College’s current Strategic Plan, which include expanding representation in and training opportunities for the College’s faculty; a curriculum that includes historically underrepresented communities and global perspectives and initiatives to encourage a range of pedagogical approaches that accommodate diverse learning abilities. For more information on SVA’s continued efforts, visit https://sva.edu/about/diversity-equity-and-inclusion.

"Dru brings with him to SVA a great deal of experience in the DEI and student support spaces,” said Dr. Cyphers. “I am eager with work with Dru to build upon our previous successes and advance our DEI agenda, particularly in the areas centered around student and faculty recruitment."

"I am beyond excited to join such a vibrant and diverse community at SVA,” says Alvez. “I look forward to years of collaboration and creating a sense of belonging for all, both in and out of the classroom."

A native of Albany, New York, Alvez began to love DEI work in educational settings during his time as a student at SUNY Potsdam, where he earned a B.A. in Speech Communication and an M.A. in English and Communications. Alvez also has a passion for sports, with experience as a coach and a sports writer and editor, contributing to publications like Bleacher Report, VladTV and Elite Daily.

Following five years of working in the NYC media industry, Alvez transitioned to DEI roles in education. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Organizational Change and Leadership at the University of Southern California with the goal of making institutional changes within higher education.

School of Visual Arts has been a leader in the education of artists, designers and creative professionals for seven decades. With a faculty of distinguished working professionals, a dynamic curriculum and an emphasis on critical thinking, SVA is a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility. Comprising 7,000 students at its Manhattan campus and 42,000 alumni in 75 countries, SVA also represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world. For information about the College’s 31 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, visit sva.edu.