CLARA ORLANDO
Fitchburg,MA
Summary
Senior equity, inclusion, and civil rights executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience across public research universities, academic medical enterprises, and complex, decentralized institutions. Attorney with nationally recognized expertise in Title IX, ADA, equal opportunity, campus climate, and institutional accountability, paired with a deeply relational, trauma-informed leadership approach. Proven ability to lead the alignment of decentralized equity efforts into coherent institutional strategy, build trust across faculty, staff, students, unions, and governance bodies, and guide universities through evolving legal, political, and cultural landscapes with integrity and clarity. Trusted advisor to presidents, provosts, chancellors, and boards; systems-level thinker who translates values into sustainable structures, shared accountability, and measurable impact.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Community Engagement Officer/Chief Inclusion Officer
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS)
Boston, MA
01.2023 - Current
- Lead university-wide strategy for equity, inclusion, and belonging across a multi-campus, health-focused institution operating within a complex regulatory and compliance environment.
- Reports dually to the President and Provost
- Strategic Leadership & Institutional Stewardship
- Provide vision, leadership, and institutional stewardship for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging aligned with the University’s mission and strategic priorities.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to the President, Provost, Executive Cabinet, and senior leadership, elevating coherence, visibility, and accountability across decentralized equity efforts.
- Lead the development and continuous improvement of a University-wide DEI framework, advancing shared responsibility while respecting academic and operational autonomy.
- Compliance, Civil Rights & Risk Leadership
- Serve as the University’s designated authority for Title IX and advisor for ADA, Title VII, VAWA, and EEO compliance, ensuring rigorous adherence to federal and state civil rights laws and University policy.
- Designed and implemented integrated complaint intake, tracking, and resolution systems, strengthening institutional accountability and consistency.
- Integrate compliance, policy, and culture to maintain an environment free from harassment and discrimination, while strengthening transparency, learning, and trust.
- Advise senior leadership on risk mitigation, institutional credibility, and reputational considerations in complex and high-impact matters.
- Campus Climate, Engagement & Belonging
- Advance campus climate assessment, data-informed analysis, and reporting, using findings to guide strategy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as a visible, accessible, and trusted institutional leader, listening deeply to emergent equity concerns locally and nationally and helping the University respond with clarity and compassion.
- Champion belonging, dignity, and respect across student, faculty, staff, online, and non-traditional populations.
- Develop the university's first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the university's Community Engagement strategic plans.
- Education, Development & Cultural Change
- Design and deliver evidence-informed educational programs, training, and professional development for students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
- Partner with the Provost, Deans, and faculty leaders to support curricular and instructional transformation that advances equity, access, and inclusion.
- Collaborate with Student Affairs to strengthen student success, wellbeing, and inclusive engagement.
- Decentralized Collaboration & System Engagement
- Work closely with standing and ad-hoc committees, faculty governance structures, Student Government, and hiring committees to embed equity into decision-making.
- Collaborate with Enrollment Management and Human Resources to improve equitable recruitment, retention, and advancement at regional and national levels.
- Actively engage with Colleges of the Fenway (COF) and the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts (HECCMA) to advance cross-institutional DEI initiatives and shared learning.
Associate Vice Chancellor, Equal Opportunity & Outreach and Diversity and Inclusion
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell, MA
01.2013 - 01.2023
- University equity and compliance leader at a public R1 university, operating within a highly decentralized academic and administrative environment.
- Title IX and ADA Coordinator
- Led campus-wide civil rights compliance, equity strategy, and climate initiatives, balancing legal rigor with relationship-centered leadership.
- Served as the University’s Title IX and ADA Coordinator, overseeing policy, investigations, training, and institutional response.
- Represented the University at federal and state civil rights regulatory agencies and prepared the required legal documents.
- Supervised and mentored a multidisciplinary team of investigators; personally served as senior investigator for complex, high-risk matters.
- Designed and implemented integrated complaint intake, tracking, and resolution systems, strengthening institutional accountability and consistency.
- Partnered with Human Resources, Student Affairs, faculty leadership, and shared governance bodies to advance equitable practices in recruitment, retention, and employee relations.
- Co-lead the university's Sexual Harassment Taskforce.
- Co-lead the drafting of the university's Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan.
- Developed and delivered campus-wide education on harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and inclusive leadership, building shared understanding across constituencies.
- Worked fluently in unionized environments, advising leadership while maintaining trust and procedural fairness.
Acting Director, Employment Services
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Led strategic recruitment and workforce planning functions during leadership transition in a decentralized setting.
- SYSTEM-LEVEL & CROSS-CAMPUS COLLABORATION
- Extensive experience collaborating across UMass campuses and system leadership, aligning equity, compliance, and institutional priorities while respecting campus context and autonomy.
- Regular engagement with senior academic affairs, student affairs, and HR leaders to share best practices, coordinate strategy, and strengthen system-wide learning.
Senior Manager, Diversity and Inclusion
University of Massachusetts Medical Center
Worcester, MA
2011 - 2013
- Ledsystem‑level D&I strategy; advised senior leadership on compliance, investigations, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness.
- Conducted discrimination and workplace incivility investigations; prepared EEO position statements in collaboration with University Counsel.
Associate Director, Diversity and Inclusion
University of Massachusetts – System Office / Commonwealth Medicine – Shrewsbury, MA
Worcester, MA
2008 - 2011
- Led talent management and executive recruitment for a rapidly evolving academic medical enterprise.
- Provided senior‑level guidance on employment law, labor relations, and union negotiations.
- Oversaw OFCCP compliance reviews and leadership development initiatives.
Education
J.D. - Law
Suffolk University Law School
Boston, MABachelor of Arts - Psychology
Fitchburg State College
FitchburgSkills
- Strategic planning
- Team leadership
- Relationship building
- Innovation and creativity
- Investigation leadership
- Community relations
- Crisis intervention
- De-escalation techniques
- Mediation techniques
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Decision-making
Academic Appointments
Adjunct Faculty, University of Massachusetts | 2019–2021; 2023
Taught Leadership Law and Policy in Higher Education and Educational Inclusion and Integration.
Adjunct Faculty, Quinsigamond Community College | 2012–2013
Taught undergraduate Business Law.
LEADERSHIP STYLE — ALIGNED WITH ROLE EXPECTATIONS
- Systems-oriented, relational, and trauma-informed leader
- Credible across faculty, staff, students, unions, and senior leadership
- Data-informed, transparent, and collaborative
- Comfortable navigating complex political, legal, and cultural landscapes
- Visible, accessible, and deeply committed to public higher education
Languages
Fluent in Spanish
Timeline
Chief Community Engagement Officer/Chief Inclusion Officer
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS)
01.2023 - Current
Associate Vice Chancellor, Equal Opportunity & Outreach and Diversity and Inclusion
University of Massachusetts Lowell
01.2013 - 01.2023
Acting Director, Employment Services
01.2013 - 01.2014
Senior Manager, Diversity and Inclusion
University of Massachusetts Medical Center
2011 - 2013
Associate Director, Diversity and Inclusion
University of Massachusetts – System Office / Commonwealth Medicine – Shrewsbury, MA
2008 - 2011
J.D. - Law
Suffolk University Law School
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Fitchburg State College