Chief Diversity Officer Staff

Rafael Zapata, Chief Diversity Officer, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity, and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Rafael began his tenure as Fordham University’s first Chief Diversity Officer, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity, and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs on January 16, 2018. His charge is to work collaboratively across the University and local communities to assess and enhance Fordham’s institutional infrastructure to foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and academic excellence, and implement the diversity action plan outlined by former President Fr. McShane's in November 2018. Early initiatives will focus on the support and strategic development of structures, policies and practices that promote racial justice, gender equity, disability access and full participation in the life of the university among all members the Fordham community.

View Rafael Zapata's full bio.

Felicia Satchell, MPA, Administrative Assistant
As of January 18, 2022, Felicia Satchell joined the office of the CDO as the new Administrative Assistant. She will be in charge of managing the budget, managing the calendar and convening office related meetings - including those of the DEI Council - and will also provide much needed overall administrative support and thoughtful guidance.

Felicia has been at Fordham since 2010: initially in a temporary position as a Senior Secretary in the English Department, and since 2011, in various roles in the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences - most recently as Senior Executive Secretary. Prior to Fordham, Felicia worked at Westchester Community College, the Westchester Arts Council, and the Westchester County Department of Social Services. She has a fascinating educational background, having earned a B.A. in Fine Arts from Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA, and an MPA, with a concentration in Nonprofit Management, from Pace University in White Plains, NY.