Opening Keynote Speakers
Khalilah Shabazz, Ph.D.
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
Butler University
Dr. Shabazz serves as the inaugural Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer at Butler University where she leads the development and execution of Butler’s strategy around diversity, equity and inclusion ensuring initiatives are in alignment with, and supportive of, Butler University’s vision, mission, and strategic goals.
She holds a Master’s and Ph.D. in Higher Education from Indiana University with a 21-year progressive career in higher education administration, DEI work, and teaching. Dr. Shabazz is a cultural competency educator, higher education administrator, DEI consultant, and dialogue facilitator designing and leading strategy & education efforts at organizations & companies across the country.
She is an Indianapolis native and serves as the International Grand Anti-Grammateus (Secretary) for Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated and is an active member of the local Alpha Sigma Chapter. She grew up steps from Butler University with her great-grandmother, Vivian Irene White Marbury, one of the seven founders of the sorority. Her fun and relaxation time activities include cooking, traveling, enjoying family, reading and shopping.
John Gates, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Clinical Professor, Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. School of Business
Purdue University
John F. Gates serves as Purdue University’s Vice Provost for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging and is a clinical professor in the Mitchell E. Daniels School of Business. In his role, he provides executive leadership and vision related to critical diversity strategy, conducts system-wide alignment activities, and advises broadly on policy, planning and practice. Since 2021, he has had oversight of the Equity Task Force, a $75-million effort focused on the representation, experience, and success of Black Boilermakers.
Prior to his 2019 appointment at Purdue, Gates had served as the inaugural associate dean in the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, where he was responsible for diversity, inclusion and engagement strategy. He also provided leadership in the recruitment and retention of faculty and graduate students from underrepresented minorities and guidance for diversity in curriculum development and programming.
Other prior academic posts include serving as associate dean for administration and finance at Harvard College, Harvard University and special assistant to the president and provost at the University of Vermont, where he focused on strategic initiatives, change management and diversity. He also held a series of positions with increasing responsibility at New York University, culminating with his role as executive director of global operations.
Gates also launched and led his own consulting firm, Criticality Management Consulting, where he advised corporate clients on a range of workforce issues. A native of Gary, Indiana, Gates received a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, a master’s degree from New York University and a Ph.D. from the University of London.
Recent Media:
Building Belonging – Purdue Alumnus (Spring 2023)
Purdue for Life Foundation
John Gates, Belonging and Inclusion for Everyone – Techies Today (Episode 018)
Purdue Polytechnic Institute
Vice Provost Gates aims to transform campus culture – The Persistent Pursuit (Feb 6, 2021)
Purdue Marketing and Communications
Redgina Hill, Ph.D.
Vice President for Inclusion and Equity
Saint Mary's College
Dr. Redgina Hill is a South Bend, IN native who has spent the past 18 years working in higher education in various roles to enrich the lives of students and other institutional constituents. Dr. Gina currently serves as the Vice President for Inclusion and Equity at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana. In this capacity, she leads strategy, innovation, employee engagement, and solves problems through the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice while working cross-departmentally. She also provides strategy and vision for offices that both serve students of today and orients them towards the future, as well as the Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative, which empowers women entrepreneurs and businesswomen through personal and professional development conferences, workshops and seminars.
Dr. Gina received her Bachelor degree from Indiana University Bloomington, an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, and earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Azusa Pacific University where she was the recipient of the 2015 Social Justice Fellowship. She has keynoted and presented at numerous national and international conferences, co-authored articles as a member of the Race & Justice in Higher Education research team, and her dissertation research was featured in Forbes Magazine in 2020.
Dr. Gina is an active member within her community and serves on several boards. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, INC and serves as an ordained minister of Faith Alive Praise & Worship Center.
Ken Iwama, JD
Chancellor
Indiana University Northwest
Ken Iwama was appointed the seventh Chancellor of Indiana University Northwest on August 1, 2020 - in the throes of the world-wide pandemic - one of the most challenging times in IU Northwest history. As the most diverse campus in the state, and a recently designated Hispanic Serving Institution, Chancellor Iwama is leading the university into a new era of community-engaged strategic priorities to advance student success.
Prior to coming to Northwest Indiana, Chancellor Iwama served as the Founding Vice President of Economic Development, Continuing Studies, and Government Relations with the College of Staten Island of The City University of New York. He is responsible for leading the college’s strategic priority in re-engaging with the Borough of Staten Island and New York City, generating unprecedented resources to grow the educational and research environments needed to enhance academic excellence. Of particular note, Chancellor Iwama secured more than $22 million for major facilities and infrastructure projects as well as academic initiatives. He also led the creation of the CSI Tech Incubator, the first technology incubator on Staten Island, and initiated the development of the borough’s first innovation center.
Prior to working at the college, Chancellor Iwama was General Counsel for the State-Operated School District of Jersey City, the first school district in the nation subject to takeover by the state because of its struggles in meeting educational standards. He was a senior member of the state-appointed intervention team that was ultimately successful in raising performance standards and commencing the school district’s return to local city control.
Chancellor Iwama has presented on higher education issues at national conferences and seminars, and has served in leadership positions with numerous higher education, legal, and community organizations. He is currently an executive committee member for the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities and a member of the AASCU Millennium Leadership Institute steering committee. Chancellor Iwama is the Secretary for the Urban League of Northwest Indiana and serves on the Boards of the Northwest Indiana Forum and the One Region economic development organizations.
Chancellor Iwama has a BA in English from the University of New Hampshire, an MA in Labor and Employment Relations from the Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations, and a JD from Seton Hall University School of Law.