Dr. Yolanda L. Avent-Roane has been working in the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for over 20 years and brings a wealth of experience working with organizations. She received her Bachelor’s degree in History from Virginia Tech, a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, GA, and completed her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech in May 2021.

Her content areas of expertise include but are not limited to Racial Equity, Implicit Bias, Identity Development, Microaggressions, Conflict Resolution, and Emotional Intelligence. She has worked in the areas of higher education, staff development, leadership development, and diversity for over 20 years. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Penn State University, Georgia Southern University, and Virginia Tech, focusing on courses in Education, Diversity, and Leadership.
 

Avent-Roane served as a keynote speaker at the UnMasking Charlottesville Symposium held following the deadly riots, in which she addressed dismantling systemic racism. In 2007, she was awarded an opportunity through a grant with the National Science Foundation (Departmental Level Reform project, called “Reforming General Engineering and Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech) to travel to Taiwan to conduct research in the area of student motivation and spiral curriculum in engineering and teach at National Cheng Kung University.

Avent-Roane has been recognized locally, regionally, and nationally for presentations that focus on diversity and leadership, inclusive learning workplace diversity, microaggressions, diversity, cultural competence, black women’s identity, and contextual identity. Avent has provided diversity training for numerous corporations, professional organizations, and nonprofits. She is passionate about helping people reach their full potential as leaders and developing more equitable, diverse, international, and knowledgeable leaders and organizations.