Three Women Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

Jennifer PeeksMease has been named the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s next assistant vice chancellor for inclusive leadership and learning within the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, effective July 1. She has been serving as an associate professor of organizational and cultural communication at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She also serves as co-chair of the university’s 150+ member Task Force for Racial Equity.

Dr. PeeksMease is a graduate of Villanova University in Pennsylvania. She holds a master’s degree in intercultural and organizational communication from Arizona State University and a Ph.D. in organizational communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Marquise Loving-Kessee has been appointed as the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Hinds Community College, based in Raymond, Mississippi. With over 27 years of higher education experience, she previously served as the academic dean for the Jackson and Utica Campuses of the college and, more recently, as dean of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Dr. Loving-Kessee is a graduate of Jackson State University in Mississippi, where she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics. She earned a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Annazette Houston is the new chief diversity officer at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida. Houston worked previously for Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee, serving as the executive director of equity and compliance.

Houston holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Langston University in Oklahoma. She earned a master’s degree in organizational communication from Murray State University in Kentucky.