Vice President & Executive Support Staff
Kimberly Hewitt
Vice President for Institutional Equity & Chief diversity officer
Kimberly Hewitt was appointed Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer 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 Affirmative Action (EOAA) 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 & Chief Diversity Officer 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
Harassment & Discrimination Prevention and Compliance
Cynthia Clinton
AssOCIAtE Vice President for Harassment & Discrimination Prevention and Compliance
Title IX Coordinator
Cynthia Clinton is the Associate Vice President of Harassment & Discrimination Prevention and Compliance, and Title IX Coordinator. She leads and implements strategic compliance initiatives, training, complaint handling and other efforts related to the Duke Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct and the Duke Policy on Consensual Romantic or Sexual Relationships. Cynthia provides education and training related to the policies and harassment and discrimination response training to staff, faculty and students. She also provides education around issues of diversity and inclusion. Additional services and areas of expertise include consulting with senior administrators, chairs, managers and supervisors on issues of possible harassment and discrimination, as well as promising practices designed to minimize the likelihood of such conduct. She has worked in the area of higher education employment discrimination and compliance for over twenty-five years. Cynthia holds a B.A. from Spelman College and a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law
Vacant
Senior EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMPLIANCE INVESTIGATOR
Policy Analyst
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.
Vakia Robinson (vuh-KEY-ah)
Program Coordinator
Vakia holds a B.S. in sociology from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. In the Office of Institutional Equity, she provides additional support for various OIE related matters. Her previous roles have included areas focused on student engagement, academic support, and social media management. Vakia has a passion for DEI work and community involvement.
aMBER PARTIN
Staff Assistant
Amber Partin joined Duke’s Office for Institutional Equity as a staff assistant in September 2024. Over the past 10 years, Amber has served in multiple roles, including administrative support, special education, and community and youth advocacy. Amber 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 the efforts within OIE by supporting staff in their mission to create a collaborative Duke culture that values diversity and inclusion.
Employment Equity and Data Evaluation
Sophia Brelvi
Director of COMPLIANCE and EMPLOYMENT EQUITY
Joining the Duke University community as the Director of Compliance and Employment Equity, Sophia Brelvi has an extensive background in law and a passion for social justice. Graduating with Honors in International Business and Political Science, Sophia matriculated through law school focusing on non-profit and regulatory law. Prior to transitioning into the Higher Education sector, Sophia worked as an asylum attorney and found her passion for compliance during her tenure as the Director of Regulatory Affairs at Fundación Rahab, an international NGO advocating for survivors of human trafficking. Shortly thereafter, she joined the Office of the General Counsel as the Director of Title IX, Ethics, and Compliance at Morehouse College. Sophia then transitioned to Dartmouth College as the Director of the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity and Deputy Title IX Coordinator. Sophia earned her BSBA in International Business and BS in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, as well as her Masters of Jurisprudence in Legal Doctrine and Analysis & Juris Doctorate degrees from Michigan State University College of Law.
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 an educator, facilitator, and administrator focused on inclusion and equity development through policy, education and intervention. She comes to Duke from Elon University where she served in multiple roles including the Director of the Center for Equity and Inclusive Excellence and the Director of Health Services. Her work has largely focused on developing and facilitating educational opportunities around issues of diversity, equity and inclusion; climate assessment; and violence/bias prevention. She has also overseen response and compliance systems responding to violence, harassment, and bias. She has experience developing anti-bias and anti-oppression curriculum for students, staff and faculty and has spent years in faculty roles as well. Leigh-Anne has 25 years of experience working with violence response and prevention, and public health activities including time at UNC Chapel Hill’s Institute on Aging, Injury Prevention Research Center, and the North Carolina Institute of Public Health. She also has experience working in the criminal justice system and the non-profit sector. Leigh-Anne holds a B.A. from UNC Chapel Hill, an MPA from the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. from UNC Greensboro.
Elizabeth Jones
Director; Education and Alternative Resolutions
Dr. Elizabeth A. Jones is an experienced educator, facilitator, trainer, and administrator in academic and community spaces around a variety of issues related to diversity and inclusion, critical pedagogy, interpersonal and organizational communication, gender and sexuality, and inclusive leadership. She believes that we learn through our identities, bodies, and stories, and that justice emerges in community/ies of care. She believes in critical feminist, queer, and disability theories and methods as modes of inquiry and sites of possibility for justice making. As a creative and performer, she also believes that creative practices can help us all get more free. Elizabeth has spent the last decade as a faculty member at North Carolina State University in the Department of Communication and in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She served in numerous administrative roles including Director of Public Speaking, in various leadership roles in the WGS, and as the Director of the First Year Inquiry Program. Prior to her work at NCSU, Elizabeth worked in the Office of Inclusive Excellence at Elon University. 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.
vACANT
Program Director
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.
Megan Peterson
Program Coordinator
Megan Peterson is the Program Coordinator of Educational Engagements. She manages the intake process for all workshops, training, and public events. She has over 15+ years of experience coordinating events. Before this role, Megan worked in management at Duke University Stores. Megan holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Central University.
Kimyata "Kim" Norris
Staff Assistant
With an extensive background in administration, Kimyata "Kim" Norris brings a wealth of experience in office management and event planning to OIE. Her organizational skills and attention to detail ensure that operations run smoothly and efficiently. Kim is passionate about fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and strives to create an environment where every voice is heard and valued. She thrives on supporting teams and enhancing workflows and is dedicated to contributing to a positive and inclusive organizational culture.