Working for diversity
Ángel Luis Vélez
Age: 36
Title: Co-Founder & President
Name of Organization: Velez Diversity Consulting LLC.
Ángel Luis Vélez started his own consulting company to have an effect on diversity, equity, and inclusion in corporations, higher education, and nonprofit organizations.
Vélez is a first-generation Afro-Latino and an award-winning racial equity and anti-racist researcher, trainer, consultant, and community advocate. He earned a doctorate in education policy, organization, and leadership with a concentration in history of education and a graduate minor in Latina/o studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also received a master’s degree in higher education leadership and a bachelor’s degree in justice studies, both from Northeastern Illinois University.
Throughout his doctoral studies, he developed a critical understanding of anti-racism, racial equity, and inclusion in education policy. He taught ethnic studies and leadership courses for over five years. He spent more than six years researching issues of injustice for racialized communities of color, particularly their access to higher education. During this career he secured numerous fellowships and awards, including the Surge Institute Fellowship, NEIU Graduate of the Last Decade Alumni Award, ASPIRA 50 for 50 ASPIRANTE Honoree, and the Diversifying Faculty in Illinois Fellowship.
He was recently the associate director of diversity and inclusion at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. Vélez has consulted for dozens of organizations on anti-racist training and on diversity and inclusion strategies. He wants to expand his work to reduce harm and inequality by creating anti-racist organizations and individuals.
He loves spending time with his family, engaging in community advocacy, and watching sports.
WORDS OF WISDOM: “Always show up as the most authentic version of yourself.”
