Meet our Academic Diversity Officer

Each respective college on Kent’s campus has a designated administrator or faculty appointed to serve as the Academic Diversity Officer (ADO). The ADO’s specific role and responsibilities vary depending on the college, but all share the commonality of serving to support, assist, and advocate for students of color and underrepresented student populations within their college.

The ADO for the College of Arts & Sciences is Kris Braxton. Kris is from Columbus, Ohio and first came to Kent State in 2008 as an undergraduate student. Kris is a proud alum of the College of Arts & Sciences as he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 2013. He then went on to attend Kent State’s Higher Education Administration graduate program and received his master’s in education (M.Ed.) in 2016. Kris was hired as an academic advisor in the College of Arts & Sciences in the fall of 2016 where he served until taking on his current position in the fall of 2020 as the Assistant Director of Academic Diversity Outreach. Within this position, Kris serves as the ADO for the college. Apart from advising, Kris’ primary responsibilities include outreach, programming, and retention efforts. Additionally, Kris serves on various committees and initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts for the college.

Feel free to reach out to Kris with any questions or concerns regarding diversity, equity, or inclusion related matters. You can reach Kris at kbraxton@kent.edu.