Neal named Interim Assistant Dean of Students

Dr. Brandi Neal (Hendricks) has been named Interim Assistant Dean of Students. She currently serves as the USI’s Director of Pathways to College, where her main role includes providing support and resources for historically underrepresented students to attend college. In addition, her duties include leading strategies and initiatives around diversity, equity and inclusion at the University. Neal's research focuses on the intersection between cultural identity and gender to inform organizational practices in higher education. In addition, her research focuses on examining barriers to educational equity for marginalized populations in postsecondary contexts.​ 

Neal has made several strides in her career, serving as an educational consultant, conducting workshops, implementing monumental strategies and initiatives to move organizations forward, and serving as a featured speaker at several conferences/talks. Keynote topics have included race relations, leadership and identity, and equitable practices. She has published writing from book chapters to journal articles focusing on identity, leadership and cultural capital.

Prior to serving as Director of Pathways to College, she served as Post-Doctoral Fellow in Student Affairs at USI beginning in 2019. She also serves on the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council; Africana Studies Committee; Student Affairs Recognition and Awards Committee; Student Affairs Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council; and Employee Outreach and Engagement Committee. Neal teaches as an Instructor for the USI College of Nursing and Health Professions and Romain College of Business UNIV courses as well as Africana Studies for the College of Liberal Arts.

She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from USI and her master’s and doctorate degrees in education policy organization and leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She holds a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certification from the University of South Florida, Muma College of Business. Neal also has a green belt in Lean Six Sigma, a methodology focused on process improvement within organizations.