Dr. Chiara Hensley

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Dr. Chiara Hensley

Assistant Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Eastern Michigan University

USA

Chiara Hensley is a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan. She received her Doctorate degree in Higher Education Leadership and Administration from Nova Southeastern University. A Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Eastern Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the University of Michigan. Passionate about issues of economic, gender, education, and race equity and inclusion, her service and professional work focuses on the development of women, institutions, individuals and communities of color, and the development of children, youth, and the elderly in the context of the advancement of civilization through unity, consultation, and the educational, spiritual, and moral development of humankind.
Chiara is also a dedicated, strategic educator and servant leader with an emphasis on conflict resolution, collaboration, consultation, social, economic and restorative justice, continuous systemic redesign and improvement, program evaluation and assessment, retention, academic success, and personalized learner-centered growth and development. Dr. Hensley currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Eastern Michigan University. Her previous work includes service at Pasadena City College in the Counseling and Student Learning Services area, holding a tenured position as Assistant Professor of Counseling. During her tenure, she also served as Counseling Department Coordinator, and Campus Diversity Coordinator.
With a heart and mind for community building and unity through consultation and community partnerships, Chiara focuses her non-profit work on geriatric care and community support and development of children and youth – specifically, education, workforce preparation, moral, spiritual, character development and advocacy as well as mental health, well-being and physical fitness.
Chiara has served the local non-profit Baha’i community for over 25 years. Her service includes chairing various youth committees, coordinating and leading the local Baha’i community center school, children’s and youth classes, coordinating large and small-scale community events, fundraisers, serving on sub-committees of budget and celebration initiatives as well as three successful terms of service as the chair of the local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Pittsfield Township.
As an educated, black, American, woman, Chiara’s history and life experiences come with depth and breadth. She is deeply committed to social change and world unity. She is an activist and an engaged community member and mentor. She is a role model for African Americans, particularly women. Her skills include but are not limited to, bringing a strong sense leadership, professional experience, and an eye of inclusion and diversity in the broadest forms, along with equity and action. A strong project manager, developer of people and collaborative leader of working groups, Chiara always works with energy, grit, resilience, a vision, clear and actionable goals and a life purpose in mind. She is output and product driven – She is intentional, deliberate and focused on producing tangible results from all of her service, community, personal and professional work. As a collaborator, Chiara brings structure and high quality to the work, the teams, collaborations and communities she which she engages.