Dawn Kiyoe Culpepper

Dr. Dawn Culpepper (she/her) is the Director of the ADVANCE Program. In this role, she guides the strategic direction of ADVANCE, oversees its management and programs, and engages in translational research focused on faculty work environment and faculty development issues.

Dawn's research broadly examines equity, diversity, and inclusion in the academic workplace, with an emphasis on identifying strategies and interventions that enhance full participation in the academic work environment. She has examined faculty hiring, workload, tenure and promotion, postdoctoral training programs, work-life integration, graduate education, and faculty-related COVID-19 policies. Her work has been published in top education and diversity-related journals, and she has served on or led  projects funded by the National Science Foundation. 

Dawn completed her Ph.D. in higher education at the University of Maryland, her master's at NC State University (M.Ed. Higher Education Administration), and undergraduate work at the University of Virginia (BA, Government). Prior to entering higher education, she worked in the educational nonprofit sector in Washington, DC, including as the Director of Programs and Operations for PLEN and as an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer.