Keith B Jenkins serves as Vice President & Associate Provost for Diversity & Inclusion and Professor of Communication at Rochester Institute of Technology bringing a wealth of experience in academic leadership and diversity initiatives since joining RIT in 1992 His academic journey began in Pine Bluff Arkansas leading to a BA in Communication from the University of Arkansas followed by MA and PhD degrees in Communication from Florida State University His leadership at RIT has included multiple pioneering roles including RIT's first Assistant Provost for Diversity Faculty-in-Residence Director of Undergraduate Degree Programs and founder of both RIT's Multicultural Center for Academic Success and the School of Communication's Journalism Degree program His excellence in teaching and leadership has earned numerous accolades including the 2010 Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching 2005 Isaac L Jordan Pluralism Award 2004 RIT Diversity Trailblazer Award and multiple Higher Education Opportunity Program Community Professor awards His scholarly work focuses on intercultural communication political and visual rhetoric and gospel song rhetoric with recent research examining pragmatism and inclusion rhetoric in Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign His service-oriented approach extends across professional family ministry and community spheres demonstrating his commitment to fostering inclusive excellence In 2022 he received the inaugural Colors of Success DEI Award from the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce recognizing his exemplary leadership in advancing diversity equity and inclusion initiatives