Dr. Lisette Garcia is Chief Research Officer of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR). In this role, Garcia is responsible for the revitalization and development of a strategic plan and roadmap for the Research Institute. In addition to overseeing the HACR Corporate Inclusion Index (CII), Garcia takes the lead in facilitating the organization’s investigative projects and developing new programs and research studies aimed at strengthening HACR’s reputation as the key source for information on Hispanic inclusion in Corporate America.

A trained researcher with a Ph.D. in sociology from The Ohio State University, Garcia has dedicated her career to exploring educational and employment issues within the realm of corporate social responsibility, discrimination, and diversity and inclusion. She has published several articles on employment discrimination and Latino educational attainment in scholarly journals.

Garcia’s employment and research experience is deeply rooted in higher education. Immediately prior to rejoining HACR, she was the assistant vice president for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at Penn State University and has been a faculty member at George Mason University, New York University, and Montclair State University.

Garcia also serves on the board of directors for three non-profit organizations Trickle Up, Collegiate Directions Inc. (CDI) and the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and is currently a member of the Penn State Alumni Council, the Racial Equity Committee for the Borough of State College, and the Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee of the Southern Sociological Society.

In addition to her doctoral degree, Garcia holds a master’s degree in sociology from Virginia Tech and dual undergraduate degrees from Penn State in sociology and labor and industrial relations. She is a proud recipient of the NCID Exemplary Diversity Scholar Citation for her contributions in diversity-related research, practice, and teaching.