Kimberly Mayfield is the Dean of the School of Education and Liberal Arts at Holy Names University. She also serves as the Vice President for External Relations and Strategic Partnerships. She has taught undergraduate and graduate students who seek professions in the field of education. Kimberly has led community initiatives to increase diversity in the teaching profession particularly in urban school districts. Prior to her work in the academy, she was an elementary special education teacher. Before becoming Dean and Vice President, she was an Associate Professor in education. Kimberly earned a masters and doctorate degrees in Teaching and Learning. Her research interests include increasing the racial and ethnic diversity in the teaching profession, reducing the overrepresentation of African American males who receive special education services and increasing daily attendance in schools. She has served as a member of the UAA Awards Committee and organized pre conference sessions for early career faculty on activism and the promotion and tenure process. Kimberly has presented extensively at UAA conferences on increasing daily attendance in urban school districts and removing barriers to teaching for diverse citizens. As a board member she would like to develop policies that support activism in the academy and strengthen collaboration between community based initiatives and the work in academia.