Ivy Tech Community College Selects Amber Williams as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Ivy Tech Community College has selected Amber Williams as its next Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging. In this role, Williams will lead the College in implementing initiatives that promote and advance diversity, equity and belonging and ensure these efforts support the College’s values and strategic goals. Additionally, Williams will work

in collaboration with the College’s procurement office to establish pathways for minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses that want to do business with the College. Among other responsibilities, Williams will also work with campus leadership to develop engagement opportunities that will proactively affect the recruitment, retention, engagement, and persistence of under-represented students.

Williams began her career at Ivy Tech Kokomo back in 2010 as an Assistant Professor of Psychology. In 2020, she became the College’s Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, and has served as Interim Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging. Williams possesses over 12 years of experience in higher education.

“We have made exceptional strides in our diversity, equity, and belonging work as a College,” said Dr. Sue Ellspermann, President of Ivy Tech. “Ivy Tech is the front door to post-secondary education and prosperity for many Hoosiers as Indiana’s open access community college.  I am confident that Amber will continue to position Ivy Tech as a leader in this work, and I look forward to working with her to further progress for all Hoosiers, students, employees, and communities.”

Ivy Tech has been named by Forbes as a Best Employer for Diversity, Best Employer for Women and Best State Employer.

“I am honored to now serve Ivy Tech Community College in the role of Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Belonging,” said Williams. “Through engaging and service-oriented leadership, I look forward to being a part of the continuous work being done across the state to create a sense of belonging for our employees and students that help to close equity gaps and make a difference in the lives of generations to come.”

Williams holds a Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Evangel University. She is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission’s MLK “Keeping the Dream Alive” Award, Ivy Tech’s 2016 Excellence in Volunteerism Award, and the 2016 Paragon Award for new Phi Theta Kappa Advisors.