Kirby R. Gibson, a third-year doctoral student in the Higher, Adult, Learning and Lifelong Education (HALE) program at Michigan State University, received the 2024 Emerging Leader Award from the MSU Women of Color Community (WOCC). The award recognizes Gibson for efforts in creating an inclusive and equitable campus environment in her role as the associate director of residence education for student learning and leadership.
She was recognized at the fifth annual WOCC conference at the Kellogg Center in February 2024. Gibson was nominated by colleague Lynn Lammers of the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (IDI).
“Gibson is a constant source of support and collaboration for the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion’s Education Team,” said Lammers. “She has emerged as a critical thought partner on the Anti-Racist Path Series planning team, in addition to advising on curriculum development for the MSU Dialogues program.”
A S(part)an of community
Of the many responsibilities Gibson holds in her role, she provides strategic oversight, vision and leadership for student learning initiatives within MSU’s residence halls. Overseeing 200 staff members across campus who together are responsible for 8,500 students – creating community is at the center of what she does. Spartan Compass and Spartan Navigator – programming designed to improve the holistic campus experience for Spartans – are just two examples of community-building experiences that Gibson has led during her time on campus beginning in 2019.
Gibson, who began her career in higher education 10 years ago, was drawn to the HALE program for its prestigious reputation and opportunity to work with faculty she admires. “Being able to work with renowned faculty like Riyad Shahjahan, Patricia Marin, Leslie Gonzales and Kris Renn has been an amazing opportunity,” she said. “There are just a number of heavy-hitter scholars in the program and it’s also a top-three program in the country.”
Department of Educational Administration Chairperson Sheneka Williams is also a source of inspiration for Gibson, and has helped her feel a sense of belonging as she pursues her doctoral dreams. “Her support as a Black woman in academia has been influential and consistently reminds me to remember who I am and what I bring to the table,” she said.
Facilitating diversity, equity and inclusion efforts is part of Gibson’s everyday work, and something that she will never stop fighting for. As part of her dissertation, she hopes to explore why Black student affairs practitioners leave the field and what influence organizations play in their decision.
“I want people to feel as though that they can live day by day being true and authentic to themselves unapologetically and on their own terms,” she said. “I want to inspire folx to take the pen and write their story.”