Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Dr. China L. Wilson currently serves as the inaugural Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University. In this role, Dr. Wilson provides strategic leadership to create and sustain a culture that embraces and promotes justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an initiative-taking, committed, and authentic leader, Dr. Wilson has over 15 years of experience in a variety of areas including career counseling, change management, civil rights, social justice, public policy, Title IX compliance, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism. Dr. Wilson is also a former performing artist with professional vocal, dance, and theatre training and experience.

Most recently, she served as the Equity and Civil Rights Compliance Specialist at the Maryland State Department of Education. In this position, she oversaw and provided statewide leadership, technical assistance, and guidance to colleges on a federal civil rights monitoring program that evaluated the equity, access, and program quality of college programs. Additionally, she co-created and facilitated a professional learning series to help college leaders set the stage for equity, conduct a percentage-point gap analysis using institutional data, identify growth opportunities for DEI, conduct root cause analysis, and create plans of action.

Previously, she led a department at Trinity Washington University serving students from various underrepresented groups. She developed effective programs, policies, and services to address barriers students faced because of race, gender, ethnicity, low income, or immigration status. During her tenure, she integrated anti-oppression frameworks to strengthen student academic participation, progression, and performance and unprecedentedly increased the usage of services, partnerships, and advocacy for underrepresented students.

As an inner-city, first-generation college student, Dr. Wilson knows first-hand the issues faced by many underrepresented students and it is her mission to use her personal and professional experiences to advance equitable learning for all students. Dr. Wilson earned her Ph.D. in Educational Management from Hampton University and takes pride in the role she plays to create strategic partnerships that promote the development of holistic programs and policies that mitigate and resolve issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Wilson contributes to the core principles of higher learning in ways that redound to the benefit of communities locally, nationally, and globally and is frequently called upon by multiple outlets to discuss her work in the community.