NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
San Diego, CA, March 13, 2025: A recent CBS News report highlighted the contrasting stances on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives between Vice President JD Vance and his mother-in-law, Dr. Lakshmi Chilukuri. While Vance has been vocal about rolling back DEI programs, Dr. Chilukuri has actively championed these efforts as Provost of UC San Diego’s Sixth College.
Dr. Chilukuri, a respected educator and molecular biologist, was appointed as Sixth College Provost in 2018. In her role, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering inclusive educational practices. Her efforts have included developing the pilot course “Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in Biology and Medicine,” which explores science through a multicultural lens and addresses historical biases in biomedical research.
Before assuming her role as Provost, Dr. Chilukuri coordinated the Undergraduate Microbiology Teaching Laboratory at UC San Diego. She was responsible for designing its curriculum, training instructional assistants, and mentoring adjunct faculty. Her innovative approach included developing online study tools and integrating research projects into the microbiology curriculum.
A staunch advocate for equity in education, Dr. Chilukuri has served on UC San Diego’s Division of Biological Sciences Diversity Committee and contributed to multiple advisory boards promoting student success. Notably, she worked with the First Year Experience Advisory Committee and served as Faculty Director for the program in 2016.
Dr. Chilukuri found herself in the media spotlight when CBS News reported on her DEI advocacy. Vance criticized the report for “harassing” his family to score political points.
