University of Mary Washington President Richard V. Hurley has named Leah K. Cox as special assistant to the president for diversity and inclusion.
In the newly created position, Cox will focus on the university’s mission to promote a diverse and inclusive working environment for students, faculty and staff. Cox currently serves as assistant dean of Academic Services as well as director of the James Farmer Scholars and the Student Transition Program (STP), both of which provide support to underrepresented students. In addition to her new role, Cox will continue to oversee the James Farmer Scholars and teach a class in support of STP initiatives.
“I’m delighted to have Leah Cox leading the efforts to ensure that Mary Washington is an inclusive university,” said Hurley. “Dr Cox has the ideal credentials with demonstrated successes leading both the James Farmer Scholars and the Student Transition Program. She will help us build on our continued efforts to enhance and embrace diversity, moving UMW closer to the goal of being the best public liberal arts university.”
As special assistant, she will serve as a member of the president’s executive cabinet and assist in the coordination of current diversity programs and new initiatives that best meet the needs of the UMW community.
A veteran administrator with more than 25 years in higher education, Cox has served as assistant dean at UMW since 2000. During that time she has provided academic support to more than 150 underrepresented and first-generation Virginia students in the transitional program, guided the James Farmer Scholars program comprised of 200 minority youth from four surrounding counties and represented Academic Services on numerous committees, such as diversity transition team, advisory council on diversity and community values, recruitment and retention, and the president’s taskforce on customer service.
Prior to her employment at UMW, Cox has served as a program information specialist for George Mason University, student services specialist for Northern Virginia Community College, prevention and education specialist for the U.S. Marine Corps, project coordinator for the Maryland State Department of Education, and placement services coordinator and minority student specialist for Gallaudet University.
Cox received a bachelor’s degree from Western Maryland College, a master’s degree from the University of Arizona and a doctorate from the University of Maryland.