Title:

A model for inclusive excellence within the School of Mechanical Engineering

Speaker:

Dr. Deneca Winfrey Avant

Affiliation:

Illinois State University

When:

Friday, April 21, 2023 at 10:00:00 AM   Add to Calendar

Where:

MRDC Building, Room 4211

Host:

Lula Baker
lula.baker@me.gatech.edu

Abstract

Avant serves as the Interim Assistant Vice President for Faculty Development, Diversity, and Learning in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Illinois State University (ISU). A Professor of Social Work, Avant joined Illinois State University in 2009 and advanced up the tenure rank. She served as the School of Social Work Interim Director for two years. Avant serves as Associate Director of Equity and Inclusion for the Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies. Avant also oversees First Star ISU Academy, a national program that improves the lives of foster youth by partnering with child welfare agencies, universities, and school districts to ensure they have the academic, life skills, and supports needed to successfully transition to higher education and adulthood. Avant has expertise in expanding and enhancing faculty programming, curriculum development, student engagement, and experience engaging constituencies that support equity, diversity, inclusion, access, and belonging at ISU. Avant serves as point of contact on all equity and inclusive matters within Academic Affairs. She oversees a $4.5 million Faculty Diversity Enhancement Program to support recruitment and retention of faculty with a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion. Avant serves on the President’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Leaders Circle, the Inclusive Climate Steering Committee, chaired the School of Social Work Anti-Racism Committee, co-chaired the Social Justice Action Forum. She has also facilitated campus-wide and national social justice trainings and lead diversity initiatives. Avant’s research has primarily been focused within the areas of Social Justice, Transformative Leadership, Social Work Practice, Foster Care, and Faculty Supports. She has ten refereed journal publications, two book chapters, three non-refereed publications, and nine white papers. Avant has received over $1 million in external grant funds to support her scholarship and programming.

Biography

Deneca Winfrey Avant, PhD: Avant earned a PhD in Educational Organization and Leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Education degree in Educational Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Jackson State University.