Hollins University has named Idella Goodson Glenn as Special Advisor on Inclusivity and Diversity. She will have oversight of and coordinate all inclusivity and diversity activities and programs at the university.
A collaborative leader with 25 years of higher education experience, the last 20 years focused on leading diversity and inclusion initiatives, Glenn comes to Hollins from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she was director for diversity education and retention initiatives. While at VCU, she created diversity and inclusion education sessions; facilitated relationships among 13 colleges/schools on two campuses to maximize diversity and inclusion efforts; and was part of the core leadership team for the Institute on Inclusive Teaching.
Prior to joining VCU, Glenn served in a number of roles during 18 years at Furman University, including assistant vice president for student development and director of diversity and inclusion; assistant dean for diversity and inclusion; and director of multicultural affairs. She was an effective liaison between multicultural and international students and the university’s faculty, staff, and administration, and developed an ongoing educational awareness program to sensitize the campus community regarding multicultural issues.
Glenn holds a B.S. from Furman and completed her M.Ed. in higher educational administration at the University of South Carolina. She earned her Ph.D. in educational leadership at Clemson University. In 2005, the Southern Association of College Student Affairs presented her the Bobby E. Leach Award for significant contribution to the development of multicultural relations on campus. The following year, Furman honored her with the Chiles-Harrill Award in recognition of exemplary concern and exceptional caring for undergraduate students. Last August, she received the James Curtis Harkness Foundation Community Award.
Glenn is a member of the board of directors at the National Coalition Building Institute and a senior leader for their campus programs. She also serves on the National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity.
Founded in 1842 as Virginia’s first chartered women’s college, Hollins is an independent liberal arts university providing undergraduate education to women, selected graduate programs for men and women, and community outreach initiatives. In addition to 27 undergraduate majors and eight graduate disciplines, including a nationally recognized creative writing program, the university offers extensive career preparation and study abroad opportunities and the innovative Batten Leadership Institute, which challenges both students and professionals to be better leaders.
