ABOUT

Jolene A. Lane is President and Founder of Equity Lane, LLC, a consulting firm located in Akron, Ohio, that focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility strategy, working with organizations and their leadership teams striving to broaden the impact of this important work. Equity Lane offers practical guidance to leaders in the corporate, education and non-profit sectors in developing intercultural competence, for work project improvement and organizational change.

 

Jolene has built a career in education promoting diversity, equity and inclusion and served previously as Vice President for Inclusion and Equity and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Akron and Senior Director for Diversity and Community Affairs at Teachers College, Columbia University. A seasoned educator, she has worked in higher education administration and as an elementary and secondary school principal, and in the non-profit sector specializing in college access, leadership development, and providing access and opportunity for first generation and underrepresented students.

 

Jolene studied mathematics and pre-med at Harvard University, earned a Master of Education from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education in Administration, Planning and Social Policy and is currently completing her doctoral dissertation from Teachers College, Columbia University in Adult Learning and Leadership. She is also a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) assessment of intercultural competence.

 

Jolene is actively involved in community initiatives supporting inclusivity and building relationships that foster community involvement impacting race and gender equity - especially working to promote education and the dual tenets of economic and social justice. She serves on several prominent non-profit boards and co-chaired the Education Subcommittee of the [Akron] Mayor’s Racial Equity and Social Justice Task Force.

 

Jolene has presented nationally on a multiplicity of DEI topics and has been honored with numerous awards including the 2020 Athena Leadership Award and the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award from Fountain Valley School of Colorado.  You may contact Jolene at equitylane.dei@gmail.com.