Northeastern Illinois University Appoints Eric J. Pegués, Ed.D., as Executive Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

After a nationwide search, Northeastern Illinois University has appointed Eric J. Pegués, Ed.D., to the position of Executive Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, effective July 15, 2026. He will report directly to President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan, Ph.D., as well as sit on the President’s Cabinet.

“Throughout his career, Dr. Pegués has worked at the intersection of student success, equity and organizational culture,” said President Bell-Jordan. “His scholarly work and professional practice center on racial battle fatigue, burnout, belonging and creating conditions in which historically marginalized and minoritized students, staff and faculty can thrive. I look forward to Dr. Pegués partnering with NEIU faculty, staff, students and community members to advance our University’s equity, diversity, inclusion and success initiatives.”

Dr. Pegués comes to Northeastern after serving at Tulane University in New Orleans as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Social Transformation (formerly Senior Director of Equity Diversity and Inclusion). He later assumed responsibility for strategic Initiatives and engagement, serving as a senior leader within both the university and the Division of Student Affairs. He also served as Interim Director of the Carolyn Barber-Pierre Center for Intercultural Life, where he advanced university-wide strategies focused on equity, belonging, student engagement and community building.

Prior to Tulane, Dr. Pegués served at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) as Assistant Dean of Students, where he led community standards, bias reporting and education initiatives, and diversity dialogue programs. At UIC, he also oversaw the residential education program within Campus Housing, including the Faculty-in-Residence program, in which he partnered with UIC faculty to strengthen the educational experience within the residence halls and to support thriving living-learning communities (LLCs). In this role, he helped establish and expand affinity-based LLCs that fostered belonging, engagement and student success.

Before joining UIC, Dr. Pegués held leadership roles in multicultural affairs and student life at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana and Augsburg University in Minneapolis, where he developed programs focused on leadership development, student engagement and inclusive excellence.

Dr. Pegués earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, Pre-Law and African American Studies from Middle Tennessee State University. He also holds an M.A. in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Ball State University and a Certificate in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from Northwestern University. He earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. He is expected to complete his MBA at Tulane University's A. B. Freeman School of Business in Fall 2026.

Top photo: Executive Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Eric J. Pegués, Ed.D.