05. 28. 2019

Dr. Mylene Culbreath joins the Graduate School as Associate Director, Diversity & Inclusion Consulting

Dr. Mylene Culbreath, headshot

After an extensive national search the Graduate School is pleased to announce that Dr. Mylene Culbreath will join the University of Minnesota in a newly created position, Associate Director, Diversity & Inclusion Consulting with the Graduate School Diversity Office, starting June 12.

Dr. Culbreath brings to this position more than ten years of experience in higher education and a passion for improving graduate student and postdoctoral scholar retention.

In her position as Associate Director, Dr. Culbreath will partner with collegiate, graduate program, and department leadership and administrators to support new and existing efforts to increase the retention and success of historically underrepresented graduate students and postdoctoral scholars by supporting their work to foster organizational environments that value diversity and inclusion.

“Diversity, inclusion and belonging are critical to student success. The opportunity to extend my professional mission by assisting faculty in climate change is an incredible honor I do not take lightly,” says Dr. Culbreath.

“In the past, I’ve groomed my students for the road ahead. Today, I work alongside faculty helping to make that road a bit smoother.”

Dr. Culbreath will also serve as a resource for colleges, graduate programs, faculty, and graduate student support staff to develop self-sustaining strategies on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in support of students’ academic and professional success.

Dr. Culbreath received her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia’s Workforce Education program with an emphasis in human capital training and development. She earned a Master's degree in Counselor Education from Old Dominion University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Virginia. Most recently, Dr. Culbreath worked to develop a $1.2 million grant program within the Office of Instruction at the University of Georgia to increase graduate school access for marginalized populations. In that role, she also assisted faculty in implementing intentional mentorship practices. This position will be Dr. Culbreath’s first residential stay in the Midwest. Making the transition, she looks forward to the active lifestyle and infamous winters the greater Twin Cities area has to offer.

We are excited to welcome Mylene to the Graduate School and look forward to strengthening our efforts to increase the retention and success of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who are underrepresented in academia.