Meet Chief Diversity Officer Ponce Duran

This week on Scouting Newsroom we announced the BSA’s appointment of Ponce Duran as our first Chief Diversity Officer. Duran is currently the Southern Region director and will continue in this role as he ensures our programs reach communities nationwide, sharing Scouting’s benefits and opportunities with parents and their children.

“I am honored to take a leadership role in our continued efforts to reach families and children in underserved communities,” Duran said.

Duran will be at the helm of the BSA’s mission to continue our legacy of serving youth from different ethnicities, faiths, and backgrounds. Learn more about Duran’s Scouting background and commitment to embracing diversity in the BSA.

• He achieved the Eagle Scout rank in 1970.
• Duran is a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow.
• He earned his master’s degree in adult education from Texas A&M at Kingsville. He returned to his undergraduate alma mater, the University of Texas-Pan American, as the director of the American Humanics program while continuing his work with the BSA.
• Under Duran’s leadership, the Southern Region has recruited more than 500 diverse district committee and council board members and has the highest number of diverse Scout executives.
• As the director of professional recruiting at the BSA national office, he developed national internship programs, recruiting diverse young professionals from more than 80 universities across the country.

Here’s what Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh said about Ponce’s role:

Ponce leading our diversity efforts is key for the BSA. We believe every child should have the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from Scouting’s adventures. Ponce will help strengthen Scouting’s connection to diverse cultures and communities and further our commitment to giving kids fun experiences and instilling values and character that last a lifetime.

Read more about the new Chief Diversity Officer role and what Duran brings to the position in the full announcement in Spanish and English on Scouting Newsroom.