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�鶹��Ƶ President Todd Diacon announced Thursday that Lamar R. Hylton, Ph.D., has been selected to serve as vice president for student affairs, effective May 1, 2020. Hylton has been serving as the interim vice president for student affairs since Sept. 16, 2019. In addition, Diacon has appointed Amoaba Gooden, Ph.D., as the interim vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, effective June 1, 2020. Gooden currently serves as chair and associate professor in the university’s Department of Pan-African Studies. She will succeed Alfreda Brown, Ed.D., �鶹��Ƶ’s inaugural vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, who will retire May 31, 2020. Brown was recognized for her contributions to the university during the �鶹��Ƶ Board of Trustees meeting in March.

“I cannot think of two individuals, both well known on campus, who better epitomize our commitment to student success than Drs. Gooden and Hylton,” Diacon said in an email to the �鶹��Ƶ community announcing the appointments. “Furthermore, I cannot think of two individuals better prepared to lead during these difficult times. Both bring a depth of experience, a wealth of knowledge and unlimited empathy to their new roles, and we will benefit from their leadership and good judgment.” 

As vice president for student affairs, Hylton will lead �鶹��Ƶ’s Division of Student Affairs and institutional efforts aimed toward enhancing the engaged co-curricular lives of all �鶹��Ƶ students within the eight-campus system. The vice president for student affairs directs staff in a wide variety of student affairs functions and oversees strategic planning, assessment and activities designed to support the vision and mission of �鶹��Ƶ.

The vice president for student affairs reports directly to Diacon and is a cabinet-level position.

Hylton joined �鶹��Ƶ on June 1, 2017, to serve as dean of students before his appointment as interim vice president for student affairs. Prior to joining �鶹��Ƶ, he served as the assistant vice provost for student affairs at the University of Minnesota for three years. He also served as the director of the Intercultural Center and Office of Multicultural Student Programs at the University of North Carolina – Asheville from 2011 to 2014.

A resident of Kent, Ohio, Hylton received a Bachelor of Arts in vocal music-performance from Morgan State University, a Master of Education in college student personnel from Ohio University and his Ph.D. in higher education administration from Morgan State.

For more information about �鶹��Ƶ’s Division of Student Affairs, visit www.kent.edu/studentaffairs.

As interim vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, Gooden will lead the university’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and be responsible for the executive leadership and management of �鶹��Ƶ’s diversity and inclusion matters, leading strategic diversity planning for the university and ensuring successful creation and implementation of key policies, programs and projects. Gooden will work in conjunction with the university president, cabinet members, deans and academic chairs to advance diversity, equity and inclusion as integral components of �鶹��Ƶ’s purpose-driven agenda. 

Gooden will work in the region to foster diversity practices and policies across industries to ensure that �鶹��Ƶ’s diversity belief permeates the marketplace. Gooden will also work with faculty, staff and students to ensure our graduates enter the workforce ready to communicate and act on �鶹��Ƶ values of diversity, equity and inclusiveness.  

The interim vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion reports directly to Diacon and is a cabinet-level position.

Gooden joined �鶹��Ƶ in 2006, first serving as an assistant professor in the Department of Pan-African Studies. She became a graduate faculty member in the Department of Geography in 2009. In 2012, she became an associate professor in the Department of Pan-African Studies and served as interim chair of the department. She was named chair of the Department of Pan-African Studies in 2013. Before joining �鶹��Ƶ, Gooden was an associate member of the University of Toronto Faculty of Nursing’s Diversities and Politics of Health research cluster. She also served as an instructor at the University of Guelph, Temple University and Pierce College.

A resident of Kent, Ohio, Gooden received a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts, both in history, from the University of Guelph. She also received a Master of Arts and Ph.D., both in African-American Studies, from Temple University. 

For more information about �鶹��Ƶ’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, visit www.kent.edu/diversity. 

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Photo Captions:
Photo of Lamar R. Hylton:
Lamar R. Hylton, Ph.D., has been selected to serve as �鶹��Ƶ’s vice president for student affairs.

Photo of Amoaba Gooden:
Amoaba Gooden, Ph.D., has been appointed to serve as �鶹��Ƶ’s interim vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Media Contacts:
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu, 330-672-2797
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595