Gatton College Announces Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board

The Gatton College of Business and Economics has announced the launch of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board. The primary mission of the advisory board is to support initiatives that empower students, faculty, and staff while fostering a culture of engagement and belonging for all. 

"I am pleased and excited to announce the formation of the Gatton College's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board," said Dean Simon Sheather. "We have a strong group of faculty, staff, and business leaders who are collectively committed to creating and executing various initiatives that will bring about positive change in our campus community."

The Gatton College Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board members include: 

Marilyn Clark - Manager of Economic Development and Supplier Diversity, Fayette County Public Schools

Emma Deye - Accounting and Finance Analyst, Tektronix

LaShawn Evans Jr. - Small Business Tech Advisor, Dell

Huaming Gu – Partner, Baird Capital

Erica Y. Miles - Director of Diversity and Inclusion, U.S. House Committee on Financial Services

Rohan Munnolimath – University of Kentucky student

Frank Parker - Managing Director and Investment Officer, The Parker Wealth Management Group

Ron Robinson - CEO and Owner, LCP Transportation LLC

Victoria Russell - Chief of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Papa John’s International

Jonathan Webb - Founder and CEO, AppHarvest

University of Kentucky Representatives:

Simon Sheather - Dean, Gatton College of Business and Economics

Serenity Wright - Director of Honors Pathway Programs, Co-director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Gatton College of Business and Economics

Scott Kelley - Interim Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Gatton College of Business and Economics

Dave Ziebart - PwC Professor of Accountancy, Co-director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Gatton College of Business and Economics 

The advisory board will facilitate more direct forms of engagement such as mentoring students from historically marginalized backgrounds, engaging with the Gatton College Mentoring Initiative, and participating in a faculty, student and/or staff book club. With unified efforts by the entire Gatton College community, the board hopes to make measurable gains over the next several years. These gains will be measured by incorporating new questions into teacher course evaluations that are focused on community. Questions regarding experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion have been added to faculty and staff hiring processes as well.

“We have a commitment to serve all students within the Gatton College”, said founding board member and director of Honors Pathway Programs Serenity Wright. “It is our responsibility to ensure that students from historically marginalized backgrounds are not only seen and heard; but are empowered and feel valued as members of this community.”

The University of Kentucky is increasingly the first choice for students, faculty and staff to pursue their passions and their professional goals. In the last two years, Forbes has named UK among the best employers for diversity, and INSIGHT into Diversity recognized us as a Diversity Champion three years running. UK is ranked among the top 30 campuses in the nation for LGBTQ* inclusion and safety. UK has been judged a “Great College to Work for" two years in a row, and UK is among only 22 universities in the country on Forbes' list of "America's Best Employers."

For more information about the Gatton College’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, contact serenity.wright@uky.edu or 859.257.0730