Meet Our Keynote Speaker:
Ashley Gaddy Robbins, Ph.D.

For many of us, our calling comes to us at a young age. Dr. Ashley Gaddy Robbins first heard her calling in her early years and followed that voice in pursuit of advocating for equity in underserved communities and for underrepresented groups. Dr. Gaddy Robbins serves as the founder and head consultant of Ashley Gaddy Enterprises, an agency which focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion using authentic approach to center humanity. She has previously worked in Higher Education, Corporate Sales, and Telecommunications serving in all organizational levels. Dr. Gaddy Robbins believes that normalizing authenticity in the workplace leads to happier and more successful teams. She also believes that true leadership requires the awareness of one’s values and purpose, and she leverages that foundation as she builds and implements winning people and culture strategies.

Dr. Gaddy Robbins is a North Carolina native and received her Bachelor’s in Communication Studies and Master’s in Liberal Studies from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and PhD in Cultural Studies at George Mason University. Social Justice Education and Social Change are passion areas for Dr. Gaddy Robbins, and she enjoys watching individuals transform during their DEI journey.

As a Black woman who has worked mostly in predominately white spaces in the south, Dr. Gaddy Robbins spends much time advocating for vulnerable identity groups and centering their power. Dr. Gaddy Robbins’s research & practitioner focuses on race and gender equity, power, inclusive leadership, DEI in practice, institutional equity using mixed methods assessment, Dr. Gaddy Robbins’s background also includes serving as faculty in Communication Studies at UNCW teaching Interracial Communication.

As the daughter of an Executive Director of a non-profit, Ashley has personally witnessed the ongoing work and dedication that is required to serve communities. She is a wife, Amma to 4 girls, and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc..

Follow Ashle on Instagram @ info coming soon