Dr. Brandon L. Wolfe
Chief Diversity Officer
Brandon L. Wolfe (pronouns: he/him/his) is Charlotte’s inaugural Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer. He joined Charlotte after serving as the inaugural assistant vice president for campus and community engagement in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Wolfe has devoted over 19 years to developing and implementing strategies to establish, sustain, and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across higher education and non-profit agencies. Before Charlotte and UAB, he held roles at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, Auburn University, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County. In addition to serving as an administrator, Wolfe is a scholar whose research agenda explores the intersections between leadership, organizational socialization, climate and culture, and its impact on minoritized groups across college and university campuses.
Wolfe obtained his Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration, Masters of Education in Adult Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Auburn University. He has also completed post-graduate education and training as a Peabody Fellow at Vanderbilt University, National Association for Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) Standards of Professional Practice Institute, and Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program. Wolfe is an active leader in the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE). He is an AmeriCorps alum and an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
Kerrie Stewart
Social Research Specialist
Kerrie Stewart (pronouns: she/her/hers) received a B.S. from Xavier University in New Orleans and an M.A. in Sociology from UNC Charlotte.
Nikki Kawalec
Executive Assistant
Nikki Kawalec (she/her/hers) is the Executive Assistant to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She came to the Charlotte family after 18 years as a litigation paralegal, where her organizational skills, administrative experience, and ability to connect with others led her on a successful path in the legal field. Nikki’s passion for seeking new horizons aligned with her values and volunteer work centered around DEI is what brought her to join UNC Charlotte. Prior to becoming a paralegal, Nikki graduated from the University of Lynchburg (f/k/a Lynchburg College) in Lynchburg, Virginia, with a degree in History and dual minors in Philosophy and Political Science.
Dr. tehia STARKER glass
Executive Fellow of Faculty Development
Tehia Starker Glass (pronounced Tee-uh; pronouns: she/her/hers) is the Cato College of Education Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Inclusive Excellence Fellow of Faculty Development in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and an Associate Professor of Elementary Education and Educational Psychology in the Department of Reading and Elementary Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is a Student Experience Research Network Fellow alum, therefore she uses her research and expertise to inform education policy. Her research and publications include preparing preservice and in-service teachers’ culturally responsive teaching self-efficacy, anti-racism curriculum development, and exploring how caregivers and teachers discuss race with children. Dr. Glass is a TED speaker, and co-author of Teaching for Justice and Belonging- A Journey for Educators and Parents. Dr. Glass is an Educational Advisor and Certified Trainer with Brownicity: Many Hues, One Humanity. She co-founded and is the Director of the Anti-Racism Graduate Certificate Program at UNC Charlotte.
DR. KENDRA JASON
Executive Fellow of Strategic Initiatives
Kendra Jason (pronouns: she/her/hers) is an associate professor of Sociology and expert of social inequality, work, and organizations. From 2021-2023, Dr. Jason was the Race and Social Justice Advocate for UNC Charlotte’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. She is the editor of the 2023 book, Race and Social Justice: Building an Inclusive College through Awareness, Advocacy, and Action. Her research on the topics of organizational behavior and management, Black women academics, teaching about racism, and diversity, equity and inclusion in the university can be found in refereed journals, technical reports, book chapters, and teaching outlets. Her work has been featured at The National Academy of Sciences and in media outlets, including Forbes.com. She is a sought-out speaker on race and equity in the workplace. Dr. Jason has nearly 15 years of diversity, equity, and inclusion experience. She attained her Master’s and PhD from North Carolina State University. In addition to completing the North Carolina State University Equal Opportunity Institute Certificate Program, she has developed, facilitated, and engaged in numerous equity and social justice programs. Dr. Jason is core faculty in Sociology and Organizational Science and affiliated with the Africana Studies and Gerontology programs, as well as, the Department of Public Health Sciences.
Erika Shelton
Summer Graduate Intern
Erika Shelton (pronouns: she/her/hers) received a B.S. from East Carolina University and is a second-year MPH student at UNC Charlotte with a concentration in Community Health Practice. She has interests in health policy, sustainability, and workplace diversity & inclusion (DEI). While at East Carolina University, she created DEI programs and activities for the university that served the student community. She is also on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee for the Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group, where she implements initiatives to ensure an inclusive workspace. She will currently serve as an intern for the department this summer, and can’t wait to see the impact she will have on the UNC Charlotte community.