2020 Event
4th Annual African American Female Professor Award
2020 AAFPAA Celebration
Guest Speakers
Michelle Jones-Johnson
Keynote Speaker
Michelle Jones-Johnson is an innovative human capital strategist with an outstanding reputation as an agile and visionary organizational champion. She is sought after speaker and contemporary thought leader on issues related to diversity and the future of work. As the vice president for talent and inclusion, and chief diversity officer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts, she focuses on attracting, developing, and retaining talent that distinguishes WPI in the competitive marketplace, positioning the Institute as “talent rich and talent ready” and poised for the future with a capable and sustainable workforce.
Dr. Patricia Marshall
Opening Remarks
Dr. Marshall holds a BA from Colby College and a Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from Brown University. Prior to serving as the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Worcester State University, she was the founding Chair of the Department of World Languages and held a tenured appointment as an Associate Professor of Spanish.
Dr. Marshall is also a founding board member of MassEdCO, a statewide network of service sites that works with economically and educationally disadvantaged students. She currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Student Success at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, where she is staff to the Board of Higher Education’s Academic Affairs Committee, oversees academic program approval for public as well as independent colleges and universities operating in Massachusetts, and serves as the liaison to the Chief Academic Officers at the state’s public institutions of higher education.
Dr. Calvin R. Hill
Moderator
Dr. Calvin R. Hill has spent all of his professional life in an academic setting, having worked entirely in a college or university since obtaining his B.A. from Bethany College. Then and now, Dr. Hill’s energies remain focused on creating inclusive and vibrant campus communities. Dr. Hill currently serves as the Vice President for Inclusion and Community Engagement at Springfield College.
Under Hill’s leadership, the division of Inclusion and Community Engagement is set up to promote and maintain a campus culture of inclusive excellence while simultaneously providing the community with a central point of contact for those wishing to explore ways they can connect with and support the College’s outreach efforts. The division provides students, faculty, and staff with opportunities to work, live, and play across lines of identity and difference.
