Brian Hamilton Named Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is thrilled to announce the addition of Brian Hamilton, MEd, as its new director of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In this newly established role, Hamilton works under the direction of Stephanie White, MD, MS, to advance the mission of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and help execute the college’s strategic plan. This includes implementing new initiatives and increasing engagement to build a more welcoming, inclusive campus while focusing on efforts for recruiting and retaining diverse faculty, staff, and learners.
Hamilton arrives to the UK College of Medicine with nearly a decade of experience developing recruitment strategies and leading diversity programs. He most recently served as assistant director of the UK Center for Graduate and Professional Diversity Initiatives. In this role he managed community building programs, professional development opportunities, and inclusive outreach and recruitment initiatives.
Prior to arriving to UK, he gained experience in student recruitment as a college admissions representative with a focus on predominantly Black and Latinx high schools in Missouri. He later served as the senior multicultural admissions counselor at Hanover College in Hanover, Ind.
“Brian possesses well-rounded expertise in leadership, diversity and inclusivity programming, and community engagement in an academic setting. He is a wonderful addition to build upon the progress we have made over the past year,” Dr. White said. “I look forward to collaborating with Brian to ensure our commitments lead to change.”
Though he is in the early stages of his director position in the UK College of Medicine, Hamilton already sees the potential of making a lasting impact for all employees and students.
“I want to create a framework and a curriculum that can last well beyond my tenure in this position, something that 10 years from now can still be impactful and educational for faculty, staff, and learners,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton applied for the position because he views it as the “perfect opportunity” to play a bigger role in supporting the University’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. As director, he has a chance to positively influence the policies and procedures affecting diverse students, and he is excited to complete this work in higher education.
“I was in the students’ shoes once upon a time, so I look forward to being able to pour into students and contribute to a positive educational experience for them,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton received a bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri, followed by a master’s degree in education at the University of Louisville. He is currently working toward his doctorate at the University of Kentucky to further his knowledge in academia and leadership.
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has expanded to put more resources into guaranteeing progress toward its goals. Along with the addition of Hamilton, the office recently appointed Kevin Pearson, PhD, professor in the department of pharmacology and nutritional sciences, as director of inclusive research initiatives to develop programming, increase community engagement, and enhance pipelines for greater diversity in research.
