Juan Sepúlveda has advanced diversity and inclusion at each step of his distinguished career. From his involvement in community organizing at age 16; through his co-founding of the Latinx on Fast Track Leadership Institute (bringing together "the nation's top Latinx high school seniors for...seminars on leadership, community-building, and career exploration"); to his present role as a Distinguished Professor and the Special Adviser for Inclusive Excellence to the Trinity University president (focused on implementing "campus-wide programming that promotes diversity and fosters inclusion and access"), Sepúlveda has a long-demonstrated commitment to inclusion, developing future leaders, and excellence.

Raised in Kansas, Sepúlveda lives in San Antonio, where he has been active in the Harvard Club. As a Harvard senior, he was one of the first Latinos awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, laterearning a Master’s at Oxford and a law degree at Stanford. He has been a biographer; a US Presidential campaign advisor; a senior vice president at the Public Broadcasting System; and a professor since 2018. He has served on the boards of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Stand for Children.

As Sepúlveda explained in Harvard Magazine, "Communities that welcome diverse perspectives thrive.... My multifaceted career, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and personal background uniquely position me to contribute meaningfully to Harvard's continued pursuit of excellence and inclusivity." As Overseer, he would "actively contribute to assisting our schools and departments in fostering a deeper sense of belonging for all students, ensuring that Harvard remains a beacon of educational excellence and inclusivity.”