Roque Diaz

A pioneering first-generation neurodivergent Puerto Rican, Dr. Roque Diaz has meticulously woven leadership, administration, scholarship, and performance into a career that spans nonprofit arts organizations, higher education, and K-12 education in culturally diverse international settings. Since joining the MacPhail Center for Music in 2018 as the Director of School Partnerships, Dr. Diaz has ascended to the role of Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), where he champions initiatives to cultivate a more inclusive and equitable community. His personal experiences as a person of color in traditionally white spaces deeply inform his dedication to ensuring culturally diverse and relevant experiences through DEI.

An esteemed trumpeter, Dr. Diaz’s musical journey has taken him to major international orchestras, showcasing his talents in orchestral, chamber, contemporary, Latin, jazz, and other musical forms. Beyond performance and education, Dr. Diaz is a vanguard DEI Arts and Culture Consultant. He leads the charge in reimagining arts organizations by focusing on decentering white prominence and building systematic structures that support DEI growth. He is instrumental in shaping transitional processes that establish the necessary infrastructure and support for DEI policies, practices, resources, curriculum development, intercultural competence, while also convening and collaborating with a wide array of stakeholders.

Dr. Diaz’s commitment to equity extends through his service on several prestigious committees and associations. He serves on the National Guild for Community Arts Education and the Culturally Responsive Arts Education (CRAE) Committee for the Minnesota Department of Education. As the Minnesota Equity and Diversity (MED) Chair for the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) and an Equity Committee member at the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Dr. Diaz is at the forefront of shaping educational policies and practices to reflect diversity, equity, and inclusion at both state and national levels.

To delve deeper into the transformative impact of DEI in arts education and beyond, connect with Dr. Roque Diaz.

Learn more about DEI and the work Dr. Diaz lead’s at MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, MN here.

Follow Dr. Diaz on his LinkedIn page for to learn more about DEI across the arts here.