KENNESAW, Ga. | May 7, 2019

President Pamela Whitten has appointed Sylvia Carey-Butler, vice chancellor for academic support of inclusive excellence at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, chief diversity officer at Kennesaw State University, effective July 29. 

As chief diversity officer, Carey-Butler will be responsible for overseeing the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and leading the development and implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives. She will develop a long-term diversity and inclusion action plan and establish clear, meaningful and measurable goals and metrics to broaden perspectives around diversity and inclusion among the university community and its strategic partners. In her role, Carey-Butler also will develop strategies and programs focused on the successful recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff. 

“At Kennesaw State, we firmly believe in the importance of providing a welcoming and inclusive campus environment,” said Whitten. “As a dedicated expert in the area of diversity and inclusion, Dr. Carey-Butler provides the type of collaborative and transformational leadership that will help us enhance our campus community so that all students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to succeed. I know that she shares our values, and I look forward to working with her to recruit and retain world-class students, faculty and staff.”

In her role as vice chancellor, Carey-Butler is responsible for building collaborative partnerships across the campus to create an equitable campus climate and inclusive learning environment. She joined the University of Wisconsin in 2013. Prior to her current position, she served as interim executive director of the United Negro College Fund’s (UNCF) Institute for Capacity Building and Director of UNCF’s Enrollment Management Program. She has held numerous positions in higher education in New York state. She also served as assistant provost and dean of honors at Dillard University in New Orleans, and associate dean of studies at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Carey-Butler has researched and presented extensively on student recruitment and retention in higher education, African American women administrators in the academy and African American males in higher education. She designed the diversity and inclusion curriculum for the American Council on Education’s Fellows program and is the former chair of the Oshkosh Area Community Food Pantry and the Oshkosh Housing Authority.

“Kennesaw State is a vibrant and diverse community,” said Carey-Butler. “I look forward to joining the leadership team to work collaboratively with students, faculty and staff to strengthen the university’s commitment to providing a supportive and welcoming environment for everyone.”

Carey-Butler received a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Vanderbilt University, and an M.A. in Social Science with an emphasis in Counseling from Binghamton University.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.