Chatham VP named Pitt’s AVC for equity and inclusion

Randi Congleton, vice president for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Chatham University, has been named assistant vice chancellor for equity and inclusion in Pitt’s Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

She will join the University in November 2021 to provide oversight to advance strategic diversity and inclusion initiatives and provide guidance on matters as they pertain to equity, diversity and inclusion.

In her scholarship and career, Congleton focuses on the ways in which institutional policies and practices inhibit thriving, full equity, inclusion and justice for underserved communities. Her work also brings people together to unpack challenging social justice conversations and asks individuals and teams to think through systems challenges to improve equity outcomes.

Congleton earned her Ph.D. in education and organizational leadership at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an M.S. in Community Services from Michigan State University and a B.S. in agricultural and extension education from Penn State University.

In 2019, Congleton was named a Woman of Excellence by the New Pittsburgh Courier. She is also a member of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education and an alumna of its Standards of Professional Practice Institute. Congleton serves on the Black Girl Equity Alliance Advisory Board, the research arm of Gwen’s Girls and the GED Testing Service Transformation Team.