Kansas State University has named Zelia Wiley as interim associate provost for diversity, effective Jan. 3.
Wiley was the assistant dean for diversity and director of the diversity programs office in the College of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension. Wiley has implemented diversity initiatives with regard to teaching, research and extension within the college.
“The position of interim associate provost for diversity is a critical one for Kansas State University,” said Provost and Senior Vice President April Mason. “Dr. Wiley has been essential to the growth of multicultural students in the College of Agriculture. She also brings a wealth of leadership skills to assist Kansas State to be a more inclusive campus to all. Dr. Wiley will work with our faculty, staff and students to help define diversity broadly and raise awareness across our campuses of the importance of respect and inclusiveness.”
The interim associate provost will serve as a university advocate promoting enhanced racial and cultural diversity and an inclusive campus climate that fosters academic excellence and understanding among diverse groups. The interim associate provost also directs the operations of the Office of Diversity and serves as a member of the Provost’s Executive Team and the President’s Advisory Council.
“I am very honored to be selected for this position and serve in the provost’s executive team,” Wiley said. “My goal is to build on the university’s multicultural student recruitment momentum and increase retention and graduation rates while creating a culture for inclusion to promote diversity. My experiences have prepared me and I am excited to be appointed.”
Wiley was responsible for recruitment and retention programs of ethnic minorities within the College of Agriculture and worked to increase the minority ethnicity application pool in K-State Research and Extension. Since assuming her role in 2003, she has seen significant increases in the multicultural student populations within the college.
She is the chair of the Black Faculty and Staff Alliance, a member of the K-State President’s Commission on Multicultural Affairs and local chapter adviser to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She also is the adviser to the K-State student chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, National Resources and Related Sciences and in 2007 she served as president for the national group. In 2011, Wiley received the Commerce Bank Presidential Award for enhancing diversity at Kansas State University.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics with a minor in engineering and a master’s degree in agricultural education and human resources from Prairie View A&M University and a doctorate in agricultural and extension education from Penn State University. Her past educational experiences range from student services to transformational and engaged learning approaches, delivering faculty and departmental diversity through inclusion programming and building intercultural capacity.
