Assistant Provost for Inclusion, Diversity & Equity

Dr. Leonard’s position in academic affairs is focused on defining, assessing, strategizing, and implementing inclusive excellence as central to the Shenandoah’s mission. He is interested in processes, practices, and policies that make a real and sustainable impact throughout the institution and with schools, divisions, programs, and departments. The areas of the work surround initiatives of recruitment, retention, and success of diverse faculty and staff, support for faculty development, working to support and collaborate with faculty and teaching staff for transformative learning, and collaborating across the university to support student success, engagement, and belonging.

It is going to take us all working together for transformation. The unexamined impacts of racism and oppression cannot stand here. We are not unique in that racism and oppression are everywhere, but we want to be accountable in the way we acknowledge, listen and learn, commit and collaborate, and follow through with sustained action."