On The Edge News

By Zack Moncrieff

Staff Writer & Photojournalist

Oct. 1, 2021

After a year-long search, Dr. Milton Javier Bravo has been selected to become the new Vice President of Mission, Values and Inclusion at Edgewood College. 

Prof. John Leonard and Tony Garcia, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, jointly served as interim VPs during the past spring semester.

This position has historically guided the college through issues of social justice and its cultural identity as a Dominican Catholic institution. 

“He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience of both mission leadership and diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism work,” President Andrew Manion wrote, welcoming Dr. Bravo in a campus-wide email to students, faculty and staff on Sept. 10.

Bravo has a PhD from Fordham University in New York City and a dissertation on U.S. Hispanic Catholics and Education. As an adjunct professor of theology, he instructed at St. John’s University and Fordham University. He has previously worked in Enrollment Management, Human Services, Student Affairs, Campus Ministry and most recently Academic Affairs as the Assistant Dean for Academic Advising at Fordham University.

He also worked as associate publisher for Commonwealth Magazine, a liberal-leaning Catholic opinion journal.

“When I first saw the ad for the Vice President of Mission, Values and Inclusion, I saw it as an exciting opportunity to incorporate a lot of the skills and professional experiences that I’ve gained,” 

Bravo told On The Edge that he spent his career advocating for first generation college students. He said he draws upon his own experience as a first-gen college student himself to assist with the unique challenges they face in academia.

“Exciting, I keep saying the word exciting because I see this job as an opportunity to put together all these skills as well as collaborate across departments,” he said.

Bravo as the new VP will also weigh in on proposals to change the changing general education requirements for undergraduate students, a change that has been in the works over multiple semesters and may be voted on in coming weeks. At this time Dr. Bravo has no comment on the matter.

Bravo is currently working remotely in New Jersey, but will be moving to Madison with his wife and son at the end of October and starting in-person Nov. 1. He said he looks forward to meeting and listening to all on campus.

He will also be on campus for President Manion’s inauguration ceremony on Oct. 10.