Director of Policy and Planning
Dadao Hou (he/him) is the Director of Policy and Planning at the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In this role, he leads the efforts related to climate data and policies in collaboration with campus partners and contributes to the campuswide strategic planning. He has extensive experience in data analysis, climate survey creation, compliance reporting, policy development and implementation, and professional development design and delivery—all from an equity lens.
Prior to UC Santa Cruz, Dadao served as the Affirmative Action Officer at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he started as a policy analyst.
A native of Suzhou, China, Dadao holds bachelor’s degrees in mathematical statistics and sociology from Peking University and a Master’s degree in sociology from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He arrived in the U.S. as an international student and earned his Ph.D. in sociology from Texas A&M University. His academic training and lived experience equip him with a deep understanding of how individuals and their identities and experiences are situated in historical, structural, and social forces.
Outside of work, you can find Dadao running, reading, and learning Spanish.
Contact Dadao to learn more about
- Climate surveys
- Program evaluation
- Campus climate and policy review and implementation
- AANAPISI (Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions)
- Inclusive and equitable practices for staff hiring and retention
Email: dhou3@ucsc.edu
Languages spoken: Chinese, English