Bwann Kellie Gwann is a passionate leader with a proven track record in academic and student affairs, strategic planning, and operations management in higher education. With over a decade of experience, Bwann has demonstrated strong leadership skills and is eager to support profitable businesses with new and innovative ideas.

Since September 2023, Bwann was selected as the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts. She has served on the planning committee to launch WPI's inaugural DEIB Wellness Symposium. Additionally, Bwann has fostered opportunities for learning and engagement for faculty and staff through training workshops centered on Best Practices for Inclusive Faculty Searches, Diversity Advocates. and Employee Resource Groups. Bwann hopes to build upon her legacy of fostering community and belonging.

Prior to her role as the Director of DEIB at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Bwann served in a number of positions at Lesley University for over a decade. She served as the Director of Multicultural Affairs and Social Inclusion, where she excelled in DEI programmatic planning for student's faculty and staff. She was also the Interim Executive Director of the Scholars Initiative (USI), a scholarship program for 120+ students. She strengthened relationships with 17 local community-based organizations in the Greater Boston area for access to higher education, particularly for individuals of underrepresented and low-income communities. This program provided opportunities for students to receive academic and life coaching throughout their college journey. Bwann’s vision and leadership of the USI program resulted in a 92% retention rate of first and second-year college students between the academic years 2020-2022. She developed a USI graduate student pathway and a workforce preparedness program, which supports USI students seeking to enter the workforce or pursue graduate education. This initiative has resulted in an annual institutional fund commitment of $25K for the USI “Bridge Out” program. 

Throughout her career, Bwann has been a champion of helping individuals and organizations explore their greatest potential. She is a sought-after speaker in student development and organizational strategy. She has shared her expertise on topics such as student development, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and strategic planning. Bwann's thought leadership has led her to be appointed by the university administration as a sub-committee co-chair to increase operational efficiency for new hire onboarding efforts as part of the “Better Lesley” initiative.

Bwann holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Bentley University, where she not only had a graduate student experience, but she led a team to 1st place victory in the 2023 Bentley Business Case Pitch Competition. In August 2023, Bwann began her doctoral student journey in Organizational Change in Leadership at the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education. 

Outside of her professional pursuits, Bwann enjoys Zumba, traveling, and baking. Her commitment to giving back to the community reflects her belief in the power of amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities in hopes of driving organizations forward.