Dr. Leah Cox serves as Vice Provost in the Office of the Provost.
As the Vice Provost for the Office of the Provost at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, Dr. Cox provides leadership and supervision of Associate Provosts overseeing multiple community and academic programs and planning committees. She collaborates with various departments and stakeholders across the university to provide integration and alignment of strategic goals of the institution.
She is a recognized leader and popular keynote speaker who has created innovative programs and initiatives, led policy development and strategic planning efforts, and has designed and led a variety of inclusive training programs. Her work has directly influenced recruitment and retention endeavors for academic institutions and businesses. With more than 30 years of experience working in higher education, business, healthcare, and community organizations, she is recognized for promoting and creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations. Her areas of specialization include personnel development, recruitment, retention, disability awareness, cultural competency, student success, and higher education leadership.
Dr. Cox joined UNC in 2021 as the Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion. Before joining UNC, she was the inaugural Vice President for Inclusion and Institutional Equity at Towson University. She also served as the Special Assistant to the President and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. She also spent many years working at Gallaudet University leading the university’s first minority student affairs office.
Leah Cox obtained her Ph.D. in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland, College Park; a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Arizona and a bachelor’s degree from Western Maryland College in Art/Teacher Education.