Dr. Taffye Benson Clayton is the inaugural Vice President and Associate Provost for Inclusion and Diversity at Auburn University. Dr. Clayton and her team are tasked with strengthening Auburn’s diversity and inclusion footprint within the institution and nationally. Dr. Clayton formerly served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and as Associate Provost and Chief Diversity Officer at East Carolina University. Throughout her 25+ year career as an executive administrator leading diversity and inclusion efforts at major universities, Dr. Clayton has served students, faculty, staff, community, visitors, and alums. Dr. Clayton is the designated executive leader for administering the University’s diversity and inclusion strategy and is the principal advocate and adviser to the Provost, President, and senior University leadership on issues of diversity and inclusion.
Dr. Clayton is known nationally for her presentations on faculty diversity recruitment and retention, integrating diversity and inclusion in higher education institutions, strategically positioning diversity and inclusion, and translating corporate diversity and inclusion promising practices into the higher education context. She is the current co-Chair of the Membership Committee of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education NADOHE and Program Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Strategists Executive Council of The Conference Board, a global, independent business membership and research organization. Dr. Clayton serves on the Executive Committee of APLU’s Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and is the Convener for the SEC VP/CDO group, with representation from senior Cabinet-level DEI leaders from universities throughout the Southeastern Athletic Conference.
