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A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion: A seven-sector framework to transform higher education access, success and completion
Journal of Education Advancement & Marketing,
8
(2),
184-193
(2023)
Abstract
As the US continues to navigate the historic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cities, counties and states, higher education has also been affected, particularly diverse, lower socio-economic and first-generation students. Although access to education has always had common challenges including financial, transport, childcare and access to broadband and Wi-Fi, the achievement and success gaps have had a disproportionate impact on some students. Overall student excellence is a top priority at West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC), particularly given its achievement of being a record five-times top-ten college nationally and twice a finalist with distinction, including in May 2021. Therefore, areas of deep concern were not only access, success and equity, but also a lack of developed committees to identify, address and implement strategies to address those gaps. What was also missing was adequate funding to meet the large and varied needs of our regional student populations. In December 2020, WKCTC was the recipient of a record US$15m gift from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott, which is the largest single donor gift in the college's history. The college advanced a bold and transformative vision to address and remove financial barriers and barriers to regional access and success in higher education by incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) through a seven-sector vision developed by the president.
Keywords: diversity; equity; inclusion; endowment; stewardship
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Anton Reece was selected on 1st October, 2016 as the first African American and second President of West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC). Dr Reece is humbled to serve as President of WKCTC, which, according to the Aspen Institute, is a record five-time, top-ten ranked college, and which, in May 2021, ranked in the top five colleges with distinction among the nation's more than 1000 community and technical colleges. Dr Reece was selected for the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship's 2021 cohort. Under Dr Reece's leadership, WKCTC also received a record US$15m grant from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott in December 2020. Dr Reece has 30 years of extensive student success, enrolment, retention, teaching and learning, leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) expertise. He is a highly sought-after national speaker and has spoken to over 600 varied audiences in New York, Texas, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Minnesota and Arizona. These audiences include corporations, colleges, high schools, youth organisations, churches and prisons, and have provided him with crucial material to empower others. At the regional and local level, Dr Reece utilised his visionary, creative and leadership skills to actively build partnerships, convene teams with transformative results and intentionality outreach to diverse, rural and underserved communities, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and engage K-12 education, business, industry, religious, Chamber of Commerce, economic development and community partners in Paducah and the Jackson Purchase area. Dr Reece pioneered the annual Regional Educators Award for K-12 educators and the first Regional Business Symposium, attracting over 100 businesses and CEOs to address workforce and economic development needs. Dr Reece sums up his leadership style, as ‘empowering others to find their voice by achieving their education and career dreams with direction and purpose’.
Lee Emmons is a regional director of philanthropy and major gifts officer for the University of Kentucky. She manages university philanthropy for the western part of Kentucky, working from her home in Paducah. Previously, Lee was Vice President for Institutional Advancement at West Kentucky Community and Technical College and Executive Director of WKCTC's foundation, Paducah Junior College, where she was responsible for fundraising, donor relations, community partnerships and executive management of the foundation. Lee has worked in higher education, non-profit management and marketing and communications for more than 30 years. She has been the recipient of several awards, including Murray State University's Nonprofit Management ‘Giving Back Engagement’ Award and Paducah-River City Business and Professional Women's ‘Outstanding Achievement’ award. Lee has been a presenter at state and regional Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) conferences and is an active member of CASE and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She is a graduate of Leadership Kentucky and is also active in local and regional professional and civic organisations. Lee holds a master's degree in organisational communication from Murray State University and a bachelor's degree in mass communication from Morehead State University.
