UT System Selects Delphia Howze as Executive Director of Equity and Diversity

Knoxville — The University of Tennessee System has selected Delphia Howze as its executive director of equity and diversity after conducting a national search.

Howze has more than 20 years working in industry and higher education helping organizations leverage diversity to create and strengthen inclusive environments. She will begin her duties on Oct. 1.

“We are so excited about Delphia Howze joining the UT System human resources team and being dedicated equity and diversity,” said Brian Dickens, UT System chief human resources officer. “Her wealth of knowledge, professionalism, expertise and interpersonal skills will most definitely help to advance our continual focus on this extremely important topic for the University of Tennessee System.”

As the executive director of equity and diversity for the UT System, Howze will consult and partner with UT’s campuses and institutes to advance efforts to identify and remove social, financial and health disparities that impede diversity, equity and inclusion. In collaboration with Dickens, Howze will work to prioritize diversity and inclusion initiatives. She also will serve as a resource to campuses and as a statewide advocate.

“I am grateful and deeply honored to join a team of dedicated professionals at the UT System,” Howze said. “The opportunity to develop and define strategies that will align and strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion across the system is exciting.  I look forward to collaborating and providing contributions that will result in positive and impactful outcomes throughout the UT System.”

Since March 2020, she has served as a senior human resources business partner at Syracuse University, helping leaders and stakeholders shape human resources plans, as well as diversity and inclusion strategies. She also is the chief executive officer of D. Howze Solutions, which provides diversity and inclusion consultancy. She serves as a diversity and inclusion expertise panel member for the Society for Human Resources Management.

Howze previously worked as director of employee relations and development at Ithaca College from 2017 to 2020. She also has held roles in human resources and diversity and inclusion in retail, banking, energy, trucking and logistics, including at the Society for Human Resource Management, Penske Truck Leasing and Strategic Energy. In those roles, she has developed diversity and inclusion strategies for more than 20,000 employees through the development of training sessions and new programs. She has also assisted with policies and programs to attract, retain and promote a diverse workforce.

Howze has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Business Administration from Point Park University and a project management certification from Villanova University.