Diverse Organizational Impact and Transformation Certification

Finalist institutions’ evidence submitted to verify responses to the DOIT survey was reviewed for core markers. Core markers comprised: 1.) response and evidence matching, 2.) substantial transformative behavioral change, 3.) adequate evidence volume, and 4.) adjacent pillar impact. Additionally, reviewers sought to discover what institutions were not doing, which might nullify certification achievement.

Submission requirements included: 1.) explaining the process(es) used to establish and mandate the institutional behavior(s), 2.) providing evidence that substantiated the institution’s claim that it repeated the behavior “very often” (seven of 10 repetitions) as a matter of business, and 3.) identifying the level of impact of the behaviors on the institution and targeted populations.

Finalists:

The institutions bearing the title of “Certified DOIT Institution” survived rigorous, autonomous review and scrutiny by nationally known experts from the states of Indiana, Florida, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Texas. On the following pages are profiles of Coe College, Grand Valley State University, and Morgan State University, the institutions that earned DOIT certification. 

Each reviewer was selected against qualifying criteria, including a minimum service tenure of five years in a senior-level diversity role, 10 years in higher education, board service, and signing a statement of integrity agreement.

DOIT Reviewers

Dufour, Graciela, SPHR
Associate Vice President for Human Resources & Organizational Development
Stetson University

Harvey, William B., Ed.D.
Distinguished Scholar
American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity

Martinez, Jobi, Ph.D.
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
Harris Health System

Summers, Tammi, Ph.D.
Vice President, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Gateway Technical College

Wallace Jr., James, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs
Indiana University Northwest

Pickett, Clyde Wilson, Ed.D.
Vice Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer
University of Pittsburgh

Whitcomb Jenkins, Stancia
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
University of Nebraska System

DOIT Administrators and Researchers

Ken Coopwood Sr., Ph.D. – CEO, Coopwood Diversity Leadership & Education Universal

Ken Coopwood Sr., also known as “Dr. Coop,” is CEO of Coopwood Diversity Leadership & Education Universal (Coop Di Leu). His success has resulted in many honors over the past decade. His recognition includes One of 12 People to Know(2012), Society for Diversity Member of the Year(2014), and National Visionary Award(2015). His 2016 research on chief diversity officers drew the most substantial response rate for such an initiative. His February 2017 webinar: “Clarifying Campus Climate Initiatives,” drew 350+ attendees. His 2018 bootcamp was the first nationwide to address and train about chief diversity officers’ lived experiences. His chapter, Engaging Faculty in Campus Transformation: The Diversity Fellows Program, was published in 2018 by the Association for the Advancement of Educational Research International (AAERI).

Coopwood holds certifications as an International Return on Investment Professional, Certified Diversity Executive, and a Brain Dominance Practitioner. He is also certified in cultural competency in behavioral health. He is a four-time senior-level diversity executive in higher education. He provides professional development and consultation to university professionals, domestic and abroad.

Coopwood is the developer and principal researcher of the Diverse Organizational Impact and Transformation (DOIT) certification, a collaboration with Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. He is a former board member and co-chair for professional development for NADOHE and a board member of the Society for Diversity.

Ralph Newell – Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

Ralph Newell has been with Diverse: Issues In Higher Education since 1991, serving in various senior management positions. Currently, he is the vice president for development and technology. His responsibilities include the company’s business development strategies, partnerships, and all technology-related activities, including the company’s family of websites: DiverseEducation.com, DiverseJobs.net, CCNewsNow.com, and CCJobsNow.com.

Often challenged by institutions on their ability to recruit and admit students of color and to recruit, hire, and retain faculty and staff of color, he embarked on a personal crusade to close the gap. He started researching diversity recruitment, which led to several speaking and consulting opportunities. In 2011, he came across the original version of Keep It Real, subsequently re-released as Keep It Real-Diverse. Now working with the game’s third release in 2020, Newell and the team at Diverse continue to host interactive diversity training workshops across the country for students, faculty, and staff.

In 1992, Newell created the Arthur Ashe, Jr Sports Scholars Awards that annually honor student-athletes of color that have not only reached high levels of success in their sport but are also highly active in their communities and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. At Diverse, he leads the Diverse Sports channel and the magazine’s sports-related issues, coordinating with the NCAA on points of common interest.

In addition, Newell is vice president of CMA’s nonprofit research arm, The Diversity In Education Fund. Newell is integral in developing, securing, and performing diversity-related research and consulting in this role. He is undertaking significant diversity research with Coop Di Leu, LLC called the DOIT (Diverse Organizational Impact & Transformation) certification, focusing on transformative diversity standards in higher education. The first certifications were scheduled to be released in 2022. DOIT will grade and assess an institution’s academic curriculum, senior leadership and commitment, campus climate, and senior leadership composition. He has also done work for organizations such as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Kellogg Foundation, National Science Foundation, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and Monster.com.

Newell received a bachelor’s degree from William & Mary and an MBA from George Mason University. He has done additional post-graduate studies in e-commerce and online publishing at Stanford University. When Newell is not working at Diverse, he can often be found on college football fields across America officiating. He enjoys photography, cooking, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Christen Priddie, Ph.D. – Researcher

Dr. Christen Priddie is a National Survey of Student Engagement Research Project Associate. She holds a certificate in institutional research. Before starting her doctoral work, she was a program coordinator for a campus-wide student leadership program and a graduate assistant for Project Knowledge, a STEM intervention program at Virginia State University. As a research team member for Project Knowledge, Priddie facilitated STEM intervention programming that assisted African American first-year college students’ performance and persistence.

Priddie holds a doctorate in the higher education program from Indiana University, Bloomington, a master’s degree in general psychology from Virginia State University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Diego State University. She is affiliated with the American Education Research Association (AERA) and the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE). Her research interests include campus environments, STEM performance, and persistence for racially minoritized college students.