After Kennesaw State named its new chief diversity officer earlier in May, Dr. Sylvia Carey-Butler has since began her position as the fall semester ensues.
Carey-Butler will be responsible for leading the development of diversity and inclusion initiatives by establishing measurable goals to broaden perspectives around diversity and inclusion among the university community and its partners, according to KSU News.
Carey-Butler will also be responsible for developing new strategies and programs with the goal of successful student recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff.
“As a dedicated expert in the area of diversity and inclusion, Dr. Carey-Butler … will help us enhance our campus community so that all students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to succeed,” KSU President Dr. Pamela Whitten said in the press release. “I look forward to working with her to recruit and retain world-class students, faculty and staff.”
According to Carey-Butler, five strategic priorities have been established for the 2019-20 academic year, which include cultivating awareness of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion by hosting open house events and launching the Diversity Banner Campaign.
The ODI will develop diversity and inclusion trainings and workshops and increase student engagement by establishing a diversity ambassadors program and hosting monthly “Listen and Learn” luncheons with the CDO on both campuses, Carey-Butler said.
The ODI will also develop a response process for climate issues ensuring that KSU remains a welcoming, affirming and supportive institution. In addition, the ODI will establish diversity liaisons for all 13 Colleges at KSU and form a “thought partner’s advisory committee” comprised of internal and external stakeholders.
Carey-Butler comes from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where she served as the associate vice chancellor for academic support of inclusive excellence.
Carey-Butler brings an abundance of experience as well as accolades. Prior to her work at the UW-Oshkosh, she served as interim executive director for the United Negro College Fund’s Institute for Capacity Building and director of UNCF’s Enrollment Management Program.
According to UW-Oshkosh, she has received numerous awards including an Honorary Doctorate from the State University of New York at Oneonta, the SUNY Oneonta Alumni of Distinction Honor and the 2006 Alumnae of the Year Award at SUNY Oneonta. Carey-Butler was the first African-American to have ever received the latter award.
As a student, she was awarded her Ph.D. in higher education administration and policy from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree in social science from Binghamton University.
Though Carey-Butler has only officially been in her current role at KSU since August, she said that she is excited to get to work with the ODI and that students and faculty on campus have been welcoming of her arrival.
