Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (IDEI) has named Tia Jackson-Truitt as its inaugural director of Diversity and Inclusion Education and Training. In this position, Jackson-Truitt will be responsible for developing and leading diversity and inclusion curriculum-based training across Georgia Tech for faculty, staff, and students. 

Jackson-Truitt, who has worked in higher education since 2010, previously worked in the mental health field with at-risk youth and adults. She has also worked as a forensic social worker for incarcerated populations. 

“In this new role, I hope to use my experiences in counseling and higher education to create diversity and inclusion programming that enhances the culture and climate of the Institute,” Jackson-Truitt said. “In the ten years that I’ve been at Tech, I have seen so much growth in how people with different backgrounds and areas of expertise are regarded and respected.”

Archie Ervin, vice president of IDEI added, "The addition of Dr. Jackson-Truitt to Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s professional staff represents an important milestone in the Institute’s commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming campus community. She was selected for this position from a very competitive pool of talented candidates."

"She will develop and lead a broad range of education and training focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues that will be available to all members of the Tech community," Ervin continued. "Education and awareness about diversity, equity, and inclusion is a prerequisite to building the capacity to understand, embrace, and leverage differences that diversity brings. We fully expect Dr. Jackson-Triutt’s role as a diversity education and training specialist will be a difference-maker on Georgia Tech’s journey toward remaining a best-in-class model of diversity and inclusion among universities nationwide."

Jackson-Truitt received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Delaware; her master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania; and her doctorate in counseling and student support services from the University of Georgia.

In her most previous role at Georgia Tech as associate director of the Center for Engineering Education and Diversity (CEED), Jackson-Truitt provided recruitment and retention programming for undergraduate and graduate students through the SURE, LSAMP, Grad REACH, and Grad RISE initiatives. Using best practices in STEM recruitment and retention, she has guided dozens of students from under represented backgrounds through master’s and doctoral degree programs at Georgia Tech and peer institutions. Combining her counseling background with her passion for students, she has also served as an advisor, advocate, and mentor.

Jackson-Truitt also serves as the Region B chairperson for the National Association of Multicultural Educational Program Administrators (NAMEPA) and is the principal empowerment officer for GRIOT -- the Georgia Tech African-heritage Employee Resource Group.

“I am ecstatic to be able to bring not only my professional and educational training into this role, but also my lived experiences,” Jackson-Truitt added. “I am optimistic for the opportunity to work across the campus’ various constituent groups and excited about this role’s many contributions to the Georgia Tech community to come.”