Dr. Maurice D. Gipson is the Vice Chancellor for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at the University of Missouri and a faculty member in the department of history and the department of Black Studies. Previously, he served as the Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Community Engagement and an instructor of history at Arkansas State University. In his current role, Dr. Gipson serves as the Chief Diversity Officer for the 30,000 plus student flagship campus in Columbia, Missouri. Additionally, he directs and leads the activities of the Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity with a staff of over 60 individuals and a multi-million dollar budget.

 

Dr. Gipson has over a decade of experience in higher education executive leadership.  He has worked in almost every facet of higher education administration with a particular focus on access initiatives and strategic planning.  Dr. Gipson is a founding member of the Arkansas Diversity and Inclusion Consortium, where he worked with other leaders to address diversity and equity issues in the state.  As both a researcher and practitioner, Dr. Gipson has focused on student success for diverse populations, faculty diversity and strategic leadership.  His efforts have culminated in numerous awards and recognitions for the universities he has worked. Dr. Gipson is a voting institutional member of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) and continuously presents on issues of diversity, equity and access around the country. Dr. Gipson also completed the prestigious NADOHE CDO Fellows program in 2019.

 

A native of Ferriday, Louisiana, Dr. Gipson is a graduate of Louisiana State University and received his Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center with an emphasis on civil rights. Additionally, he has a master’s degree in history from Missouri State University and a Ph.D. in history, from the University of Mississippi. Prior to coming to the University of Missouri, Dr. Gipson served in different capacities at several universities including as the special assistant to the vice president for diversity and community engagement at the University of Texas-Austin, Director of the Annual Fund at Wiley College, and Director of Development and Senior Development Officer at Huston-Tillotson University.