Teresa Maria Linda Scholz (Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder) is the Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor for the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Dr. Scholz comes to UCSC from having been an Associate Professor (with tenure) at Eastern Illinois University in Communication Studies, and affiliated Women’s Studies and Latin American Studies faculty. 

Dr. Scholz is a first-generation USAmerican and Guatemalan, and was a first-generation college graduate, raised in Guatemala and the United States. She positions herself as a Critical Latina/Latin American Transnational Feminist Scholar in Communication Studies, who is interested in understanding culturally situated theories of counterhegemonic enactments of rhetorical agency. Dr. Scholz has also completed a certification in Mindful Facilitation techniques. Courses she has taught include Rhetoric of Race, Rhetoric of Class, Gender Communication and the Body, Critical Intercultural Communication, Persuasion, and Argumentation. As a scholar-practitioner she oversees diversity and inclusion initiatives and programs in ODEI, including the Hate/Bias Response Program, the Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program, and the Diversity and Inclusion Introduction online program for students. 

Dr. Scholz delivers over 40 educational workshops and presentations annually, consults with and advises senior leadership, academic deans and chairs, students, staff and faculty on matters related to inclusive practices. Topics addressed in her workshops and presentations include Microaggressions, Communicating Across Differences, Communication and Perception, Power, Privilege and Oppression. 

In her spare time Linda enjoys spending time with her partner Marko while hiking in the California mountains, as well as many other fitness activities. She also enjoys the company of her two feisty and energetic cats, Jack and Mi-Ke.