Vice President & Executive Support Staff
Kimberly Hewitt
Vice President for Institutional Equity
Kimberly Hewitt was appointed Vice President for Institutional Equity at Duke in August 2019 after serving as the Vice Provost for Institutional Equity at Johns Hopkins University where she led the University’s efforts to comply with equal opportunity laws including Title IX and oversaw ADA compliance function. She previously served as the Director of the Office for Equal Opportunity, and after serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office for Equity and Diversity at the University of Minnesota. Kim began her career in higher education as assistant dean for students and multicultural affairs at Hamline University School of Law. She also has 14 years of experience practicing law in the areas of employment, labor, and education law, having been a partner and chair of the Education Law Practice in the law firm Rider Bennett, as well as an in-house attorney for the Minneapolis Public Schools. Kim holds an A.B. from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.
TIFFANY JACKSON
Operations Manager & Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Institutional Equity
Tiffany Jackson is the Operations Manager and the Executive Assistant to the Vice President for the Office for Institutional Equity. Tiffany manages administrative tasks and facilitates communication within the office and with external stakeholders. Additionally, she oversees budgetary matters, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently, and aligns with the strategic initiatives to advance the mission of OIE. With 20+ years of administrative experience, the most impactful was in the legal field, which primed her to be an extremely adaptable, well-seasoned professional. Her compassion for the disadvantaged led her to obtain her bachelor of science in healthcare administration from Southern New Hampshire University. Prior to this role, Tiffany worked in the Office of Community Health where she assisted the Associate Vice President in addressing the needs of marginalized communities. Tiffany is passionate about advancing equity and inclusion at OIE and beyond its borders.
aMBER PARTIN
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Amber Partin joined Duke’s Office for Institutional Equity (OIE) in September 2024 and currently serves as Program Coordinator. In this role, Amber supports the administrative functions of both the Compliance Team and the Education and Outreach Team, helping to advance OIE’s mission through efficient coordination and cross-team collaboration. With over a decade of experience in administrative support, special education, and community and youth advocacy, Amber brings a strong commitment to administrative excellence and team support in every aspect of her work. She holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration with a concentration in Human Services from the University of Phoenix and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Interdisciplinary Trauma Studies from the State University of New York–Oswego. Amber is dedicated to fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture at Duke by supporting OIE staff in their efforts to promote inclusiveness and respect across the university community.
Harassment & Discrimination Prevention and Compliance
Sharon gooding
AssOCIAtE Vice President for institutional equity, equal opportunity and COMPLIANCE
Title IX Coordinator
Sharon Fernandes Gooding is an experienced professional with over two decades in the field of education and joined OIE in November 2025. Gooding serves as the Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity, Equal Opportunity and Compliance and Title IX Coordinator. In this role, Gooding leads the Harassment and Discrimination unit with strategic planning efforts, educational initiatives, compliance issues, and facilitating a continuum of dispute resolution options related to the implementation of relevant Duke policies. Prior to joining Duke, Sharon served as the inaugural Director for the Office of Institutional Equity and Texas Christian University. Other roles in higher education include an EAO Investigator and Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Education at Northern Arizona University. Before working in higher education, Gooding practiced education law in California, Maryland and the District of Columbia - primarily working as an in-house attorney for Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland for a decade. Gooding is a trained mediator, restorative justice facilitator, and earned a B.A. In English from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, a Master’s in Education from the College of Santa Fe and a Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico School of Law.
Adrienne Allison
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Compliance Investigator
Adrienne Allison joined Duke in July 2021. She currently serves as Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Students and as an Equity Compliance Investigator. In her role, she oversees university compliance with Title IX complaints brought against students and the provision of supportive measures. She also works closely with the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards on the intake of sexual misconduct matters. As a compliance investigator, Adrienne investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment, and related misconduct filed by students, faculty, and staff. She also conducts compliance training and provides consultation services to managers and human resources staff. Prior to coming to Duke, Adrienne served in several roles at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, including Director of Title IX Compliance/Title IX Coordinator, Associate Title IX Coordinator, and the School of Law’s Director of Public Interest Advising. Before working in higher education, Adrienne practiced law with Disability Rights North Carolina and with Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP. She also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Linda M. McGee in the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Adrienne earned her B.A. in English and Women’s Studies and her J.D. with honors from the University of North Carolina.
Lonnie Hinton
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Compliance Investigator
Lonnie Hinton joined Duke’s Office for Institutional Equity in October 2016 where he serves as an equal opportunity compliance investigator. As a compliance investigator, he investigates student sexual misconduct and complaints of discrimination, harassment, and related misconduct filed by students, faculty, and staff. He also conducts compliance training and provides consultation services to managers and human resources staff. Prior to Duke, Lonnie served 25 years in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and retired as Deputy Chief of Detectives. During his tenure there, he worked in, and later supervised, several of the office’s major crimes units responsible for investigating homicides, sex crimes, and police misconduct. After retiring from the Prosecutor’s Office in 2014, he worked as an attorney for Legal Services of New Jersey and as a Title IX Investigator for Princeton University. Lonnie holds a J.D. from Seton Hall University as well as a MAS and Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Administration from Fairleigh Dickenson University.
Erin MacDonald
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Compliance Investigator
Erin MacDonald investigates reports of sexual assault, interpersonal violence, stalking, complicity, retaliation, and protected class discrimination and harassment. Erin previously served as an Equal Opportunity/Title IX Investigator for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at Chapel Hill, she also served as the Case Management and Database Coordinator for UNC's Equal Opportunity and Compliance office. She also previously worked as a legal assistant for a bankruptcy law firm and a workers’ compensation and personal injury firm, taught in UNC-Charlotte’s first-year writing program, and was the Director of an education clinic for students with developmental disabilities. Erin has her B.A. in English from Gardner-Webb University, her M.A. in English from UNC-Charlotte, and her J.D. from NC Central University.
James Mason
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Compliance Investigator
James Mason Joined Duke in May 2020 and serves as an equal opportunity compliance investigator. As a compliance investigator, he investigates student sexual misconduct and complaints of discrimination, harassment, and related misconduct filed by students, faculty, and staff. He also conducts compliance training and provides consultation services to managers and human resources staff. Prior to coming to Duke, James served as a Title IX investigator at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and also at the University of Minnesota. He began his career as a Trial Associate at Dorsey & Whitney LLP in Minneapolis, MN. James has a B.S., magna cum laude, in Communication from Drexel University and a J.D. from Howard University School of Law.
Nikki Stovall
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Compliance Investigator
Nikki Stovall began her career in higher education in the field of accessibility. Over the past 10 years, Nikki has served in multiple roles including learning specialist, case manager, and assistive technologist. Nikki has dedicated her career to facilitating access and equity for individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. Nikki holds a B.S. in Sport Management and a M.Ed. in School Counseling from Liberty University.
Jess Clark
Manager, Intake and Assessment
Jess Clark joined Duke’s Office for Institutional Equity in November 2023 as the Intake and Assessment Manager. She previously served as the Case Management and Database Coordinator for the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill's Equal Opportunity and Compliance office. Prior to that, Jess served as the Violence Response Coordinator at Elon University, the Crisis Response Coordinator at the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, and the case manager for an intensive in-home team working with children and their families. Jess graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree and earned her Master of Social Work degree from UNC-Chapel Hill.
kATIE ANDREASEN
SENIOR Program Coordinator
Katie Andreasen joined Duke’s Office for Institutional Equity in August 2025 as the Senior Program Coordinator. She previously worked in the Dean’s Office at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry, supporting student wellness initiatives and administrative operations. Prior to her time at UNC, Katie worked in employment law and immigration services. Katie graduated from Luther College with a BA in Social Work and Political Science and received her Master of Social Work degree from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Employment Equity and Data Evaluation
GRANT Scoggins
Senior EO/AA Analyst
Grant Scoggins joined the Office for Institutional Equity in 2017 as an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Analyst. In that role, he is responsible for compiling, conditioning, and analyzing data that is necessary for Duke’s compliance as a federal contractor. This process includes submitting federal reports, conducting utilization analysis, and creating data visualizations used in Duke’s Affirmative Action Plans. He also creates ad-hoc reports for Duke departments that are used in consultations or presentations given to search committees. Grant received a B. A. from North Carolina State University.
Education and Outreach
Leigh-Anne Royster
AssOCIATE Vice President for Strategy and Education Development
Dr. Leigh-Anne Royster is a public health educator and university administrative leader. At Duke, she serves as the Associate Vice President for Strategy and Education Development. In her role, she develops and delivers educational content for the broad array of Duke units and affiliates. She also helps craft policies and practices to support equity and inclusion through the institution in addition to creating workforce interventions when needed. Her primary areas of expertise are related to health equity; social determinants of health; wellness interventions; community-based research; trauma informed response and intervention; workforce and organizational innovation; and violence and bias prevention and response.
Leigh-Anne joined Duke after time at Elon University in multiple leadership roles, including the Director of the Center for Equity and Inclusive Excellence and the Director of Health Services. She spent years in an Assistant Professor role teaching courses in Public Health; Poverty and Social Justice; Public Policy; and Research Methods. Prior to her time at Elon, Leigh-Anne coordinated public health programs and research initiatives at UNC Chapel Hill working at the Injury Prevention Research Center, the Institute on Aging and the North Carolina Institute for Public Health. In addition to her university experience, Leigh-Anne’s 25+ years of experience also include work in the criminal legal system and the non-profit sector. She holds a BA from UNC Chapel Hill, a MPA from the University of Colorado, and a PhD from UNC Greensboro.
Elizabeth Jones
Director, Education and Outreach
Dr. Elizabeth A. Jones is an experienced educator, facilitator, trainer, and administrator in academic and community spaces around a variety of issues related to interpersonal and organizational communication, critical pedagogy, performance studies, and inclusive leadership. She believes that we learn through our identities, bodies, and stories, and that we can create community/ies of care. She believes in critical and creative theories and methods as modes of inquiry and sites of possibility. Prior to joining Duke University in 2022 Elizabeth spent a decade as faculty at North Carolina State University in the Department of Communication and in the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program. As Associate Teaching Professor she served in numerous administrative roles including Director of Public Speaking, in various leadership roles in the WGS program, and as the Director of the First Year Inquiry Program. Prior to her time at NCSU she spent 17 years in a variety of non-profit, academic administration, and instructor roles in Washington D.C. and North Carolina. Elizabeth holds a B.A./B.A. in English and Communication Studies, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication Studies, all from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Genevieve barnes
Assistant director, education and outreach
Genevieve Barnes is the Assistant Director of Education and Outreach at Duke University's Office for Institutional Equity. She designs and implements training programs focused on cultural competency and inclusive leadership. Genevieve collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to create meaningful educational experiences while advancing strategic initiatives to foster welcoming environments. With expertise in adult education, communication, and student engagement, she has extensive experience in event planning, program development, and leadership training. Genevieve holds a Master of Science in Adult Education from North Carolina A&T State University, a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from UNC-Greensboro, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Fayetteville State University.
SYDNEY HARRISON
Program director, communications & CeCac
Sydney Harrison joined Duke in July 2025 as the Program Director for Communications & CECAC. She has worked across the nonprofit sector and university settings, bringing expertise in community engagement, grant management, project management and development. Passionate about uplifting voices and building strong, authentic relationships, Sydney is committed to advancing a more just and equitable society through anti-racist practices, community-rooted initiatives, and intentional collaboration across diverse stakeholders. She believes in the transformative power of collective action, narrative change, and equity-driven systems work. Sydney holds a B.A. in Sociology from Elon University, an M.Ed. in Urban Education, and a Graduate Certificate in Anti-Racism from UNC Charlotte.
AManDA GonzalEz
Program Director for Special Events
Amanda Gonzalez started her career in events at Florida International University as the Junior Special Events Manager for the College of Engineering and Computing in 2019. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Digital Communication and Media with a minor in Social Media and E-Marketing. Amanda joined Duke Law School as their Faculty Events Coordinator in 2021. In this role, she managed and streamlined the logistics, planning and day-of coordination for faculty-led events at the Law School including the annual Law, Ethics and National Security conference and, most recently, the 18th Annual Lutie A. Lytle Black Women Law Faculty Workshop and Writing Retreat.
She is excited to bring her knowledge and expertise to the Office of Institutional Equity in planning their signature events, including conferences, workshops, trainings, public events, and signature programs. Amanda looks forward to joining the Education and Outreach team and supporting their mission to create a collaborative Duke culture that values diversity.