Julian Vasquez Heilig serves as the 24th Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Western Michigan University and is the first Underrepresented Minority (URM) in the role. His accomplishments across seven academic leadership positions reflect a steadfast commitment to enhancing institutional prestige, fostering inclusive excellence, and driving growth and innovation in higher education. His full curriculum vitae is accessible at bit.ly/ProfJVHcv.

A prolific researcher, Vasquez Heilig’s scholarship advances equity in K-12 education curriculum, policy, and leadership, focusing on systemic and grassroots innovations. With over 70 scholarly publications, he has engaged audiences globally, presenting at more than 30 universities and eight countries. For nearly a decade, Education Week has ranked him among the top 200 U.S. education scholars.

He has provided expert testimony for state and national legislative bodies, the United Nations, and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He has also advised presidential and gubernatorial campaigns, reinforcing his role as a trusted voice in shaping educational policy.

His commitment to community extends to advisory roles in higher education, government, schools, foundations, civil rights organizations, and non-profits. As a leader in the NAACP, he served on the Executive Committee and as Education Chair for the Kentucky and California Hawai'i chapters, demonstrating dedication to civil rights and educational equity.

His contributions have earned more than 30 awards, including Multicultural Champion by Diversity in Education Magazine in 2015, the 2019 California Assembly Resolution 1459, and a Kentucky Colonel title from Governor Andy Beshear in 2022. Recent honors include recognition as Vive Magazine’s West Michigan 25 Most Influential Latinos and Crain’s Grand Rapids Notable Black Leaders.

His research is cited by media outlets such as the New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, USAToday, and Education Week. He has appeared on local and national media, including Al Jazeera, ABC, Fox, CBS, PBS, NBC, NPR, Univision, and MSNBC.

He holds a Ph.D. in educational administration and policy analysis and a master’s in sociology from Stanford University. He also holds a master’s in higher education and a bachelor’s in history and psychology from the University of Michigan.