Simpson College announces new vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion

Simpson College president Marsha Kelliher announced today that Keyah Levy will join her cabinet as vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. Levy brings more than 15 years of experience to Simpson, most recently serving as director of multicultural education and gender and sexuality services at the University of Northern Iowa.

“We are thrilled to bring someone of Keyah’s caliber and experience to campus,” Kelliher said. “She was, by far, the most qualified candidate for this newly created cabinet-level position and came to us with incredible references from past employers and colleagues around the country. She has accomplished a great deal and we are looking forward to working with her on opportunities we see at Simpson to become a more diverse, equitable and inclusive campus.”

As vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, Levy will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of programs designed to ensure the fair and equitable treatment and success of students, faculty and staff. Levy will also provide strategic direction for training initiatives on cultural competency and building a climate of equity and inclusion on campus.

Levy has worked in both higher education and the private sector, serving in roles that have supported minoritized and marginalized communities. As part of her higher education experience, Levy has developed and implemented equitable policies, programs and environments to foster a sense of becoming for multicultural students. She has also worked closely with campus partners to create and implement initiatives for the campus community.

“Simpson has made several changes in recent years,” Levy said. “The creation of this position was one of the changes; recognizing the need to do more and actively making progress towards change. The first thing that attracted me to this position was the fact that this is a senior-level position. For me, this demonstrates the level of institutional commitment Simpson has towards advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. The institutional size, location and new insight (new, and first woman president and other new staffing) were contributing factors as well.”

Levy earned her undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies — health science from the University of Iowa. She earned her master’s degree in community health promotion from the University of Northern Iowa, adding a certificate in global health and health disparities. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in education from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, specializing in student affairs administration and leadership. 

Levy begins her role June 1.  

About Simpson College
Simpson College is a private, liberal arts college located in Iowa with campuses in Indianola, West Des Moines and online. Founded in 1860, the college has 1,268 undergraduate and graduate students. Simpson offers 74 majors, minors and programs in addition to three graduate programs. Outside of the classroom, Simpson is a member of the NCAA Division III American Rivers Conference, hosts eight Greek houses on campus and sponsors many extracurricular options for student involvement.
 
Contact Information
Cathy Cole, vice president for marketing and strategic communication
Direct: 515-961-1595
Email: cathy.cole@simpson.edu