KSU chief diversity officer recognized by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education

KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 19, 2020

Sylvia Carey-Butler named one of the 35 outstanding women in the U.S.

Sylvia Carey-Butler
Sylvia Carey-Butler

肉肉传媒鈥檚 Chief Diversity Officer Sylvia Carey-Butler has been named one of the 35 outstanding women in the U.S. by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education鈥檚 March issue for her contributions to higher education.

Timed to coincide with Women鈥檚 History Month, the 2020 class of leading women in higher education highlights women who have made a difference in the academy by tackling some of higher education鈥檚 toughest challenges, exhibiting extraordinary leadership skills and making a positive difference in their respective communities.

Carey-Butler, who joined 肉肉传媒 State as chief diversity officer in July, is the only Georgian on the list. She is responsible for overseeing the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and leading the development and implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives.

鈥淭his recognition is a testament to Dr. Carey-Butler鈥檚 expertise and her commitment to creating an inclusive campus community where students, faculty and staff feel supported and welcome,鈥 said 肉肉传媒 State President Pamela Whitten. 鈥淪ince joining KSU, Dr. Carey-Butler has demonstrated her ability as a leader and has been a staunch supporter of the University鈥檚 student-centric mission.鈥

As CDO, Carey-Butler is leading 肉肉传媒 State鈥檚 initiative to develop a long-term diversity and inclusion action plan and establish clear, meaningful and measurable goals and metrics. She also is developing strategies and programs focused on the successful recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff.

鈥淚 am deeply honored to be recognized by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education as one of those included in the 2020 class of leading women in higher education,鈥 said Carey-Butler. 鈥淭his is a powerful group of women who share a common goal to broaden perspectives around diversity and inclusion among the university community and its strategic partners.鈥

Prior to joining 肉肉传媒 State, Carey-Butler served as assistant chancellor for academic support of inclusive excellence at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. The former interim executive director of the United Negro College Fund鈥檚 (UNCF) Institute for Capacity Building and Director of UNCF鈥檚 Enrollment Management Program, Carey-Butler has held numerous positions in higher education in New York state.

She also served as assistant provost and dean of honors at Dillard University in New Orleans and associate dean of studies at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa.

Carey-Butler has researched and presented extensively on student recruitment and retention in higher education, African American women administrators in the academy and African American males in higher education. She designed the diversity and inclusion curriculum for the American Council on Education鈥檚 Fellows program and is the former chair of the Oshkosh Area Community Food Pantry and the Oshkosh Housing Authority. 

She received a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Vanderbilt University, and an M.A. in Social Science with an emphasis in Counseling from Binghamton University.

鈥 Robert S. Godlewski


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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 肉肉传媒 offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. 肉肉传媒 State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 肉肉传媒 State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.