The University of California today (Jan. 12) announced the appointment of Kathleen Salvaty to fill the new position of systemwide Title IX coordinator, reporting directly to President Janet Napolitano in a role that will lead efforts against sexual violence and sexual harassment throughout the University.
Salvaty, an attorney who most recently worked as Title IX coordinator at UCLA, will direct the University’s ongoing efforts to change the culture around issues of sexual violence and sexual harassment. This includes education, prevention, adjudication and sanctioning in such matters involving faculty, students and staff. In conjunction with campus chancellors and leaders at UC medical centers and labs, she will oversee local Title IX coordinators to ensure coordination, consistency and timeliness in implementing University policy.
“Hiring Kathleen is a critical next step in making sure our recently overhauled policies to prevent, adjudicate and sanction sexual misconduct at UC are properly, and consistently, carried out,” Napolitano said. “Her deep expertise and leadership in Title IX compliance will ensure the University remains at the forefront of advancements in this complex area and that each member of our UC community feels safe and respected.”
Salvaty brings an extensive background to her new role based at the Office of the President, which she will assume on Feb. 6. While at UCLA, the system’s largest campus, she directed responses to all reports of potential gender discrimination and oversaw the design and implementation of education to prevent sexual violence and sexual harassment.
Salvaty practiced law for more than 15 years in New York and California, where she litigated public interest and civil action cases, and worked on a variety of civil matters, including police reform and public school funding. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.
“I’m honored to take on such a critical role, especially for a top-flight public university that continually takes on tough challenges and strives to make its Title IX processes as fair and equitable as possible,” Salvaty said. “I’m excited to work with the Title IX coordinators systemwide to make even more positive changes and safeguard equal access to education.”
At the behest of Napolitano, UC has taken significant steps to foster a culture of safety and respect at all University locations while ensuring fairness and timeliness in investigations surrounding allegations of sexual misconduct. The president formed a task force to develop and implement comprehensive solutions, implementing mandatory systemwide education and training, enhancing support services for complainants and respondents, creating a website for access to critical information and campus resources, and collecting standard data across campuses to measure effectiveness and identify improvement areas.
To view UC’s policies against sexual violence and sexual assault, click here.