Committee names 3 finalists in search for new chief diversity officer

Kennesaw State’s Chief Diversity Officer Search Committee Chair Nwakaego Nkumeh sent an email to students, faculty and staff April 19, announcing three finalists in the search for the university’s next chief diversity officer.

According to Nkumeh’s email, the finalists are Assistant Dean and Senior Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions Curtis Bird from Clark Atlanta University, Associate Director of the Office for Inclusion and Equity Donna Davis Reddix from the University of Texas and Vice Chancellor for Academic Support of Inclusive Excellence Sylvia Carey-Butler from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Nkumeh said that each candidate will hold a public presentation open to students, faculty and staff as part of the interviewing process.

According to the email, Byrd will present Monday, April 22, in the Carmichael Student Center room ST 205 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Reddix will present Wednesday, April 24, in University room A of the student center from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Carey-Butler will present in room A on Wednesday, May 1, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Nkumeh said each presentation will be streamed live at livestream.kennesaw.edu. Students, faculty and staff will need to log in using their NetID and password.

According to KSU’s candidate page, Byrd has over 25 years of experience in diversity and inclusion work related to undergraduate and graduate students. At CAU, Byrd is responsible for recruitment, marketing and retention efforts for graduate students.

Reddix is a certified Association of Title IX Administrators Civil Rights Investigator responsible for investigating and reviewing complaints discrimination, harassment, retaliation and sexual misconduct.

Carey-Butler has been an educator for more than 35 years at universities such as New York State, Dillard University in New Orleans and Lafayette College in Pennsylvania. She has also conducted research and presented on higher education recruitment and retention, female African Administrators and African American males in upper education.

Nkumeh said students can provide input on each candidate anonymously at cdosearch.kennesaw.edu.

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