Three African Americans Who Have Been Named to Diversity Positions in Higher Education

Christopher Smith is the inaugural director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Arkansas College of Health Education in Fort Smith. He was dean of student services at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana.

An Arkansas native, Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. He has a master’s degree in public administration from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, and an educational doctorate from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Dana Murray Patterson is the new chief diversity officer at Wingate University in North Carolina. She most recently served as the director of intercultural affairs at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

Dr. Patterson is a graduate of Berea College in Kentucky. She earned a master’s degree in higher education administration from Eastern Kentucky University and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and administration from Washington State University.

Keisha Booker was named assistant director for the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. She had been serving as the assistant director of multicultural development. She joined the staff at the university in 2017.

A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Booker received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Thiel College in 2010, and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Slippery Rock University in 2016.

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