Paola Gallego (she/ella) joined Mount Holyoke College in January of 2022 as the Assistant to the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion. She is passionate about diversity education and personal identity development and the ways we come together through intentional dialogue and cultural exchange.
In addition to her work facilitating the day-to-day operations of the DEI Office she supervises the amazing DEI Fellows. Gallego brings fourteen years of experience in higher education. Previously, she worked at Amherst College in student-facing offices, specifically the Office of Identity and Cultural Resources supporting the initiatives of the Queer Resource Center, the Women’s & Gender Center and the Multicultural Resource Center. Prior to that she worked in the Office of Financial Aid for nine years.
Gallego is trained in Restorative Justice and Intergroup Dialogue and is eager to practice her skills with members across the Mount Holyoke and broader Five Colleges community. Gallego is a native Spanish speaker and values connecting with people in their native languages.
In her free time, you will find Gallego spending time with her kiddo and their beloved dogs, Lola and Blue. Paola loves the beach and hiking near waterfalls. The way to Paola’s heart is food, specifically Colombian and Southeast Asian food.