Jenkins has served as the University of Nebraska’s associate to the president and assistant vice president for diversity, access and inclusion since August of 2016. She brings more than a decade of experience in higher education leadership roles that have required strategic planning and execution of diversity-related efforts. She is responsible for developing and implementing strategies, programs and activities to enhance access, inclusion and retention of a diverse student body, faculty and staff. Working in collaboration with colleagues in the president’s office and diversity officers across the NU campuses, Jenkins’ work focuses on enhancing access and inclusion within the university’s core missions of teaching, research and service. Prior to the University of Nebraska, Jenkins spent 14 years at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). At Missouri, she led collaborative efforts focused on climate improvement, strategic planning, recruitment and retention of a diverse student body and workforce and positioned the institution internally and externally as one that embraces diversity and inclusion. She also developed and executed a memorandum of understanding with the federal Department of Justice to address diversity and inclusion concerns and implemented a “Chancellor’s Lecture Series” on the nation’s changing demographics and its impact on education, economics and business. Jenkins holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and advertising from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in public affairs with a focus on business and government relations from Park University. She is also a qualified administrator and interpreter of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) designed for intercultural developmental of individuals, group training and organizational change efforts.
