May 4, 2026
Dear Tufts community,
I am writing to share with you that, with the unanimous consent of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, Rosa Liliana “Lili” Palacios-Baldwin has been appointed vice president and general counsel of Tufts University. Her tenure begins on July 1, 2026, and she succeeds Mary Jeka who is retiring after 23 years of service to the university.
Lili, who has been in the University Counsel’s office at Tufts since 2013, currently serves as the deputy general counsel for labor, employment, and dispute resolution for the university. In her new role, she will oversee the offices of University Counsel, University Compliance and Ethics, and Equal Opportunity. She will directly report to me and serve on the university’s senior leadership team.
During her time at Tufts, Lili has advised the university leadership, and me, on several important and consequential legal matters. She has shown an exceptional grasp of the law in handling these issues, exercised sound judgment, and presented a clear and pragmatic approach to resolving them. Her advice is always thoughtful, measured, and with a firm commitment to the mission of the university.
You can read more about Lili in this Tufts Now story. Please join me in congratulating her on her appointment and welcoming her to this new role.
Best regards,
Sunil Kumar
President