Four Women Who Have Been Appointed Diversity Officers at Colleges and Universities

Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland has named Alisha Knight as associate provost of diversity and inclusion and senior equity officer, effective July 1. Dr. Knight is a professor of English and American studies at the college specializing in African American literature and print culture at the turn of the 20th century.

Professor Knight is a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta. She holds a master’s degree in English from Rutgers University in New Jersey and a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in English from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

Monique L. Akassi was appointed interim special assistant to the president for diversity, equity, inclusion, and special initiatives at West Liberty University in West Virginia. She previously taught at Howard University and George Washington University, both in Washington, D.C. Dr. Akassi is the president of Africana Critical Composition and Rhetoric Association.

Dr. Akassi is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, where she majored in English and comparative literature. She holds a master’s degree in English composition and rhetoric from Wright State University in Ohio and a Ph.D. in English composition, rhetoric, and sociolinguistics from Morgan State University in Baltimore.

Sherrica Davis-Hunt is the inaugural development director at the Southern Illinois University Foundation to support the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Previously, she was director of institutional advancement at Bishop State Community College in Mobile, Alabama.

Davis-Hunt earned a bachelor’s degree at  Talladega College in Alabama, and an MBA from St. John’s University in New York. She is currently working on a doctorate in education, policy, and law at Alabama State University.

Ophelie Rowe-Allen, dean of students at the University of New Haven in Connecticut since 2020, has taken on the added duties of chief diversity officer at the university. Earlier, she spent 13 years on the staff at Fairfield University in Connecticut, where she has served as associate dean of students, director of residence life, associate dean of assessment, and director of student diversity and multicultural affairs.

Dr. Rowe-Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in mental health counseling from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida. She received her educational doctorate in counseling education and supervision from Argosy University.