ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA — Kinyata Adams Brown, associate dean for engagement, diversity, and inclusive excellence at Winthrop University, was selected by a national student affairs organization as the recipient of the 2023 Bobby E. Leach Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award.
This award honors senior student affairs professionals or faculty members who have demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion throughout their administrative or academic tenure. This award is named in honor of Bobby E. Leach, the first person of color to serve as National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) president and who was also the first African-American administrator at Florida State University. Leach’s life and career were dedicated to bringing people of different backgrounds together for the purpose of promoting equality for all.
Last fall, Brown was presented the Region III equity, diversity and inclusive excellence award, which made her eligible for this national award.
She was overwhelmed with gratitude to everyone who has been part of this recognition and selection process. “I’ve had many blessings in my student affairs career, and receiving this award is one,” Brown said. “I humbly stand on the shoulders of extraordinary individuals like Dr. Bobby E. Leach. I’m also thankful for my mentors, past and present, who’ve provided guidance, support, and wisdom along the way.”
As a first-generation college student, Brown obtained her bachelor’s degree in history at UNC Charlotte before going on to complete her master’s degree in college student development at Appalachian State University. Brown holds nearly two decades of experience in higher education and has worked in areas covering studying abroad, residence life, Greek Life, multicultural programming, student engagement and diversity.
Her colleagues speak highly of her work. “Ms. Brown is a force,” said Shelia Higgs Burkhalter, vice president for student affairs. “[She] has a strong work ethic, a heart for students, and a sincere desire to advance inclusive excellence at the institutional and individual level.”
Among her achievements, Brown is celebrated for advocating change so students can self-identify names and pronouns in university systems, establishing a Diversity Peer Educator Program, renaming and expanding the Diversity Center, securing a First-gen Forward designation for the Winthrop campus, transitioning veterans programming to student affairs, and expanding the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day.
Brown and the other annual award recipients will be honored on April 4 as part of the 2023 NASPA annual conference in Boston, Massachusetts.
For more information, contact NASPA’s Ivan Gil at igil@naspa.org or Brown at brownka@winthrop.edu.
