dforbes@umaryland.edu | 410-706-5918 

Diane Forbes Berthoud is the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) inaugural chief equity, diversity, and inclusion officer and vice president (CEDIO/VP) and a Professor at UMB's Graduate School. Reporting directly to UMB’s president, Forbes Berthoud leads and advances the University’s equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategy, implementation, and accountability. She brings over 25 years of experience working in higher education, nonprofit, and government with a proven record of success in organizational change management and development, strategic planning, and assessment.

Before joining UMB, Forbes Berthoud was the Associate Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of California, San Diego, where she led the management of the university’s first Diversity Strategic Plan and designed and oversaw high-impact university initiatives. She was previously an Associate Professor and Department Chair of Communication at Trinity University, a Visiting Professor at George Mason University, and a Senior Fellow at the University of Maryland, College Park in leadership and public policy. She has been awarded faculty fellowships in the areas of women’s leadership, community-based research, public policy, and curriculum design. While completing her doctoral work, Forbes Berthoud served as the lead consultant of an organizational effectiveness and diversity initiative in Montgomery County government impacting thousands of employees.

Forbes Berthoud earned PhD and MA degrees in Organizational Communication and Social Psychology from Howard University, and a BA in Communication and a certificate in Spanish Translation and Interpretation from Barry University. She earned a management certificate from the University of California, a certificate in mediation from the National Center for Conflict Resolution, and is a graduate of the UC-Coro Systemwide Leadership Program.

She loves spending time with her family and friends, nature, the beach, and food!

University Leadership Bio | Publications and Keynotes