KENNESAW, Georgia | February 2, 2023
Kennesaw State University President Kathy Schwaig has named Sonia Toson Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), following a nationwide search. She will assume the role on February 15.
Toson, an associate professor of law, has served as KSU’s acting director of diversity since August 2021. Prior to her acting appointment, she served as director of diversity relations at the Michael J. Coles College of Business.
Reporting to the President, Toson will serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet and will be responsible for providing vision, leadership and strategic direction for KSU’s diverse and inclusive excellence division. As CDO, she will develop a long-term diversity and inclusion plan for the University and establish measurable goals and actions to broaden perspectives on diversity and inclusion within the University community. Additionally, she will continue the work she began in her interim role to develop strategies and programs focused on the successful recruitment and retention of students, faculty, and staff.
“Kennesaw State University is a place where diverse perspectives are valued and where making sure everyone feels welcome and supported is part of the fabric of our campus community,” Schwaig said. “Sonia has been a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion at KSU for over a decade, working collaboratively on our campus with students, faculty, and staff. I look forward to partnering with her to further our mission of building a stronger community.
As Acting CDO, Toson moderated a panel on “Unconscious Bias and Microaggression Awareness” for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and was one of the lead panelists on the topic of inclusion in the Education at the International Conference on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Coventry University in England.
“I am thrilled to serve KSU, my home for 14 years, in this impactful role,” Toson said. “Advancing equity, inclusion, and a genuine sense of belonging on our campus is a privilege and an honor.”
Toson joined the former Southern Polytechnic State University as a lecturer in 2008 and went on to become an assistant professor of law in 2013. Prior to her academic career, she spent eight years in private practice specializing in immigration law. entrepreneurship, real estate and construction law. His research interests focus on the intersection between law and social entrepreneurship, inclusive corporate social responsibility, social responsibility and the legal environment of sport, and the pedagogical aspects of the study of law and negotiation. .
She is a member of the National Association of Diversity Leaders in Higher Education, Georgia University System Diversity Leaders Working Group, Georgian Association of Diversity Leaders in Higher Education, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Council for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the Georgia Association of Women in Higher Education.
Toson holds a Juris Doctorate from American University Washington College of Law, an MBA from American University’s Kogod School of Business, and a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Languages and Cultures. East of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 43,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 university colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global connections, and entrepreneurial spirit attract students from across the country and around the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated (R2) doctoral research institution, which places it among an elite group of only 7% of US colleges and universities with R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.