Sense of belonging

CORNELIUS GILBERT

Bachelor’s degree in History and Afro-American Studies from University of Wisconsin-Madison

Master’s degree in Afro-American Studies from University of Wisconsin-Madison

Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from University of Wisconsin-Madison

CURRENTLY: Chief diversity officer at SUNY Adirondack

Cornelius Gilbert, Ed.D., grew up the youngest of three children of a college-educated father and learned early the importance of education.

“My father was a 1966 South Illinois University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry,” he said. “That was a PWI, or predominantly white institution — and this was in 1966 — so our household really valued education.”

Gilbert grew up in Chicago, earned bachelor’s degrees in History and Afro-American Studies, a master’s degree in Afro-American Studies and a doctorate in Education with a focus on History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“I wanted to look at higher education and how social movements, particularly the black power movement, impacted it,” Gilbert said. “One of those impacts was me and the role of chief diversity officer.”

While he was living in Minneapolis, the nation suffered another “racial awakening,” he said. “With the murder of George Floyd, I was at a point in life where I wanted to do more, in terms of my skills, my knowledge. In the midst of the pandemic, I was thinking, ‘What else can I do to spread awareness, to really do that diversity work, equity work, inclusion and belonging?’”

Gilbert said he started his career with intent to work at a community college. “I can bring great value to the students a community college serves,” he said. “Life had to teach me what it had to teach me, to say, ‘This is where I need to be.’”