USU Names New Director of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Office

Utah State University has named Alison A. Adams-Perlac as the new director of the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity office. Adams-Perlac will direct compliance with anti-discrimination and Title IX regulations for the USU system, as well as provide administrative leadership in the areas of diversity and inclusion. She joins USU at the Logan campus on Jan. 2.

Adams-Perlac has more than 10 years of experience in the Utah courts, including extensive work on projects addressing disparate impacts on minorities and underrepresented Utahns.

“Alison brings needed experience to the AAEO office,” USU Provost Frank Galey said. “Her knowledge, skills and compassion for people will serve USU and its students and employees well.”

Adams-Perlac currently works as a guardian ad litem for Utah where she represents children in juvenile court litigation and investigates child abuse and neglect cases. 

Before that, she served as the director of the Utah Labor Commission, Antidiscrimination and Labor Division for the state. There she oversaw enforcement of housing and employment anti-discrimination laws, including the investigation of cases, drafting of policy and administrative rules, and review of agency determinations in alleged discrimination cases. Adams-Perlac also served the Utah Administrative Office of the Courts as an associate general counsel. 

Adams-Perlac said she was impressed with the USU’s response to recent issues. 

“I’m excited to be a part of the ongoing effort to make sure the university is a safe campus for all, free of discrimination and harassment,” she said.

Adams-Perlac graduated with a juris doctor from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah in 2009. She also received a B.A. in political science from the university in 2006.