I am an exceptionally skilled and nationally recognized diversity and inclusion specialist, speaker, trainer, and strategist. Motivated to help create positive cultures and inclusive environments, I have a demonstrated history of shifting culture and creating communities of belonging. I also am a data-driven leader who thrives on building innovative and proven diversity and inclusion strategic plans, initiatives, and programs.

Skilled in Policy and Data/Statistical Analysis, Teaching, Marketing, Communications, Curriculum, and Program Development, and Public Speaking. I received my Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA) from Baylor University and Masters and Ph.D. from Rice University in Political Science with a focus on public policy. 

Currently, I am the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. I am responsible for leading and developing comprehensive  diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plans, partnerships, programs, and initiatives for the Wharton School. I partner with academic departments, staff, students, alumni, and faculty, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), as well as create strategic initiatives, programs, and instructive practices that support a diverse and inclusive  community.

Prior to my current role, I served as Associate Dean of Access, Diversity, and Inclusion, Executive Director of the Princeton Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Initiative, Curriculum Development Specialist for the Presidential Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program, and Lecturer in the Politics department at Princeton University. Under my leadership, the Graduate School at Princeton saw historic numbers of graduate students from underrepresented groups matriculating to Princeton. I led (as one of the Principal Investigators) the submission of a 3 million NIH-funded grant, the Initiative to Maximize Student Development (IMSD) Program designed to enhance the holistic success of Ph.D. students from underrepresented backgrounds in various natural science and engineering departments.

Moreover, as Chief Academic Diversity Officer for the Graduate School, I led an office that supported departmental and faculty diversity priorities and initiatives; participated in the graduate admissions process; provided resources and fellowships that supported students and student affinity groups; advising and mentoring; developed and implemented diversity pipeline and recruitment programs; and implemented programs that supported the success of a diverse and inclusive graduate student community. I founded and created four of the Graduate School’s most successful signature access, diversity, and inclusion programs which included the Pre-doctoral Fellowship Program, The Graduate Scholars Program, The Inclusive Academy Symposium, and the BADI Awards. While also redesigning and relaunching two incredible programs, The Princeton Prospective Ph.D. Preview (P3), and the Diversity Fellows Program, which made huge impacts on underrepresented minority admissions and student success.

Prior to my role at Princeton, I was the John B. Madden Dean of Berkeley College and Lecturer in the Political Science Department at Yale University. I also served as a postdoctoral lecturer in the Princeton Writing Program, Director of Studies at Forbes College, and Director of the Princeton Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (PSURE) at Princeton University. Additionally, I taught in the political science department at Texas A&M and Rice University and served as a research fellow for the Project of Equity, Representation, and Governance at Texas A&M and the Kinder Institute of Urban Research at Rice University. 

My research focuses on understanding the influence of race and gender in political institutions with a particular focus on political rhetoric, deliberation, education policy, and leadership within state legislatures.