Recently, at the close of the 2024 fall semester, Karlas Avalos was named the director of civil rights and Title IX at the University of Dallas.
Avalos describes herself as an analytical person with an intuitive interpersonal side. “I was blessed with a spirit of discernment–I’m looking at the legal side of things, but also looking at people as well,” said Avalos.
Avalos began as a paralegal with an associate’s degree and still practices for the enjoyable analytics and alterations. According to Avalos, her proudest recent career accomplishment was getting her role as Title IX director at UD, as she looks to help students’ voices and concerns be heard.
The United States enforces, along with other bills, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the purpose of Title IX is to protect people from sex-based discrimination in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
Title IX is used in a variety of cases, including instances of harassment or violence, and has reshaped how the U.S. handles these concerns at the university level. Any instances of anything from discrimination to misconduct can be managed using Title IX.
There has been controversy over whether certain schools, including universities such as Harvard, handle these issues properly. If investigations and adjudications are not taken care of, schools risk violating the Title IX bill and putting their institution at risk.
For this reason, both the institution and the student have ample incentive to ensure that any concerns are addressed.
When asked about trends or issues that impact her role, Avalos said she is taking measures to fix the recently updated “hazing” policy.
The term “hazing” refers to when a group of people incorporates some ordeal or challenge that is harmful to an individual as a requirement to enter the group.
Examples of hazing might include being forced to eat a habanero pepper to enter a group activity.
“The way it’s worded says any two people on this campus can be ‘an event,’” said Avalos. “It’s already in the student handbook, but it will become more explicit and incidents will be reported.”
Any forms of harassment, provocation or prohibition will be promptly addressed by Avalos.
“My typical ‘day-in-the-life’ is not typical!” said Avalos. “I leave my calendar open. Anyone has the link to schedule time with me.”
From anything from discussing an accommodation plan, bringing up a Title IX concern to discussing personal relationships, Avalos is ready to provide a kind heart and a hearing ear to the students at UD. Her values of work ethic, faith and education have shaped who she is today.
“I have always lived by Ecclesiastes 9:10: ‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,’” said Avalos.
As 2025 arrives in full swing, the UD community is ready to welcome Avalos as its Title IX director, and students are encouraged to bring any concerns to her office. Under her leadership, any instance of provocation or coercion can and will be addressed.