Staff

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  Dr. Jeffrey K. Coleman

  Deputy Chief Diversity Officer

  Jeffrey K. Coleman joined Kennesaw State University as the Deputy Chief Diversity Officer on June 1, 2020. Previously Dr. Coleman served as the inaugural director of the Multicultural Center and adjunct faculty in the departments of Sociology and African American studies at Georgia State University (GSU). Prior to GSU, Dr. Coleman was the assistant director for multicultural affairs and had oversight over the Multicultural Resource Center at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). He also managed cultural themed houses and served as the coordinator of the Promoting Respect for Inclusive Diversity in Education pre-orientation and year-long mentoring program for first-year students who were first-generation and from underrepresented backgrounds at Trinity College in Harford, Connecticut.

  Dr. Coleman has an extensive background working in multicultural affairs and student affairs managing multicultural centers; implementing minority male learning communities; creating mentoring programs for first year, first generation and minority male students; developing support services for students (particularly from traditionally under-served and underrepresented communities); providing academic and immigration-related advising and support for international students; and advising cultural affinity/identity-based student organizations. His additional experiences supporting students, faculty, and staff include developing workshops and trainings, chairing university initiatives, development of strategic plans, and managing federal and state funded grants which position him to introduce innovative ways to bridge diversity and inclusion practice alongside the curriculum.

  Dr. Coleman is a native of Bloomfield, Connecticut. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Studies and Cultural Studies from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master of Science in Counseling with a Concentration in Student Development in Higher Education from Central Connecticut State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Studies from Trinity College (Hartford, CT).
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  Dr. Jennifer Hoyt

  Diversity Planning Analyst

  Dr. Jennifer Hoyt joined the Division of Inclusive Excellence and Diversity as the Diversity Planning Analyst in May 2021. A former assistant professor of Latin American History, Dr. Hoyt chose to pursue a new career where she could focus on diversity and inclusivity. As the Diversity Planning Analyst, Dr. Hoyt tracks and assesses the Division’s various programs as well as oversees data collection and reporting for KSU’s Affirmative Action Plan. Her insights attest to the Division’s effectiveness and help identify new paths forward.

  Dr. Hoyt brings to the Division a genuine curiosity about the world and a desire to build diverse and inclusive spaces. In the classroom, Dr. Hoyt worked to show students a more complex understanding of Latin America and Latin American identity. She led program development and assessment in higher ed. She also advocated for non-dominant students and has been active in local politics in Rome, GA. In addition to race and ethnicity, Dr. Hoyt has particular interest in gender and disability issues.

  Dr. Hoyt is a Georgia native, originally from Savannah. She attended the University of Georgia where she majored in history and minored in Spanish. Dr. Hoyt continued her studies at the University of Texas at Austin where she completed a Masters and a Ph.D. in Latin American history. During that time, Dr. Hoyt regularly traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for research and visited other parts of South America. She taught history and Latin American studies at Samford University and Berry College before completing a data analytics certificate and joining KSU.
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  Dr. Johniqua Williams

  Diversity Curriculum Specialist

  Dr. Johniqua Williams joins Kennesaw State University as the Diversity Curriculum Specialist in Fall 2021. With over twelve years of experience within diversity, she has a collaborative and intentional approach to creating an inclusive synergy and development between practice and partnership.  Dr. Williams provides engaging learning experiences for organizations of all sizes. Her workshops and trainings help participants identify hidden barriers to success for diverse talent caused by unconscious bias and create more inclusive work environments where diversity thrives so that the concepts of “diversity and inclusion” are more than just buzzwords.

  Dr. Williams has devoted her career to her passion for equity and social justice, specifically through her work in diversity, civil rights, and inclusion. Previously, Dr. Williams served Columbus State University as the institution's lead for the Office of Diversity Programs and Services, working collaboratively to provide services that promote successful university experiences for a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students. Dr. Williams was primarily responsible for creating an inclusive environment through recruitment, training, and activity planning. In addition, she served as a professor out of the college of letters and science, teaching social justice and equity courses.

  Dr. Williams is a Colorado native, initially from Denver. Her academic career began at Johnson C. Smith University, a Historically Black College University in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she received her bachelor's in Social Work. Followed by her Masters in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Student Affairs from Central Michigan University. Completing her academic tenure, she obtained an Ed.D in Educational Leadership and Curriculum Development.