Alfreda Brown, vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Kent State University in Ohio has announced that she will retire on May 31. Dr. Brown has served in this role since 2009. The university has named its annual Diversity Trailblazer Award in her honor.
Dr. Brown is a graduate of Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, New York. She holds a master’s degree from the Rochester Insitute of Technology and an educational doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.
Barbara Broome, dean of the College of Nursing and holder of the Henderson Memorial Endowed Chair at Kent State, is retiring on June 30 after more than six years as dean. She is the first African American to serve as dean of the college. Earlier in her career, Dr. Broome was associate dean and chair of the department of community-mental health at the University of South Alabama College of Nursing.
Dr. Broome holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Nursing at Kent State University. She earned a Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh.