Avery Staley

• J.D., Vermont Law School
• M.A., Liberal Arts, Winthrop University
• B.A., Criminal Justice, North Carolina Central University

Avery Staley is vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion at Lenoir-Rhyne and joined the leadership team in 2021. In this role, Staley provides leadership and is instrumental in planning and implementing DEI initiatives. In addition, as the chief diversity officer, Staley collaborates with internal and external campus communities to develop an open, diverse, inclusive and supportive learning and working environment, focusing on underrepresented and marginalized populations.

Staley comes to LR from Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina. He served six years in various administrative positions in human resources, corporate, foundation and governmental relations, HR compliance and as advisor to the president. In addition to his work in higher education, Staley served as senior advisor and special counsel to former North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton.

Staley is active in the community, having served on the board of directors for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mecklenburg County and the Rowan County United Way allocation committee. He is also a member of the North Carolina Cyber Academy board of directors and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated (Alpha Kappa chapter).