UNCW Names Dr. Kent Guion as Chief Diversity Officer

by 01/17/2015

WILMINGTON, N.C. – W. Kent Guion, M.D., has been named chief diversity officer at UNCW, the university announced last Thursday. He will begin his position at UNCW on April 13, 2015.

Currently vice president for diversity and inclusion at Georgia Regents University (GRU), Dr. Guion has 25 years of experience in higher education as a research assistant, faculty member, dean and administrator. His career includes leadership positions in allied health sciences as well as multicultural, campus and community affairs. He has led GRU to receive multiple national accolades for diversity and inclusion activities, including 2013 and 2014 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity awards and the 2014 NCAA award for Diversity and Inclusion.

“Throughout his career, Kent Guion has focused on building collaborative relationships among people, campuses and communities,” said Chancellor Bill Sederburg. “His interests range from assisting individuals living with disabilities to community wellness and the ongoing academic success of students from underserved populations. Dr. Guion will bring new insight and perspectives to UNCW, and I am delighted that he has accepted the opportunity to become our chief diversity officer.”

Guion (GUY-yon) has filled many roles at Georgia Regents University, previously serving as the interim dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences, an associate dean for academic affairs of allied health sciences and associate dean for student, faculty and community affairs. At Georgia Southern University, Guion held a faculty position and served as associate dean of the College of Health and Human Services and was director of the Center for Rural Health and Research.

“I am honored to accept this opportunity to join the UNCW community,” Guion said. “Diversity and inclusion are important components of the university’s mission, and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to further develop a comprehensive, inclusive strategy that will enhance UNCW’s commitment to preparing all students to successfully engage in our global society.”

Guion holds a B.S. in zoology from N.C. State University, an M.D. from the School of Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill and an M.A. in physical education, with an emphasis on exercise physiology, from UNC Chapel Hill. He also completed a fellowship in clinical epidemiology and primary care internal medicine at Duke University.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to learning through the integration of teaching and mentoring with research and service. A public institution with over 14,000 students, the university is widely acknowledged for its superb faculty and staff and a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry, critical thinking, thoughtful expression and responsible citizenship. With an array of high-quality programs at the baccalaureate and master’s levels, and doctoral programs in marine biology and educational leadership, UNCW is consistently recognized at a national level for academic excellence and affordability. The university is dedicated to offering a community rich in diversity and inclusion, global perspectives, and enriching the quality of life through scholarly community engagement in such areas as health, education, the economy, the environment, marine and coastal issues, and the arts. •

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