Dr. Wanda Heading-Grant

Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer

Distinguished Service Professor, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy

Dr. Wanda Heading-Grant is Carnegie Mellon University’s inaugural Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Chief Diversity Officer. She also holds a faculty appointment as Distinguished Service Professor in the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. Heading-Grant previously served as vice president for DEI at the University of Vermont.

Throughout Heading-Grant's 30-year career in higher education, she has established programs, policies and practices fundamental to the advancement of inclusive excellence and diversity, equity and inclusion. Her three decades of career service span a broad range of academic and administrative roles at UVM including Vice President for Human Resources, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, Chief Diversity Officer, Associate Provost, Associate Dean and Director. Her wealth of professional experience and volunteer involvement on the boards of non-profit organizations and civil rights committees have earned her a reputation as a cultural architect able to build and sustain real and lasting change.

In 2020, the Vermont Women in Higher Education Association created a new award for Justice named for Heading-Grant and her years of dedicated leadership and service in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education. She is also the recipient of numerous awards including 2020 Eastern Region Human Resources Excellence Award, College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), 2019 Women Worth Watching Award from Profiles in Diversity Journal, the 2018 University of Vermont Alumni Achievement Award and the 2018 National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) Individual Leadership Award. Heading-Grant is also a Clinical Associate Professor in the Social Work Department of the College of Education and Social Services and a member of the graduate faculty at UVM.