Richard O'Bryant

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Chief Inclusion and Belonging Officer

As Chief Inclusion and Belonging Officer, Richard offers leadership and strategic guidance to cultivate a climate of belonging across Northeastern’s global university system. Richard’s strategic oversight includes a broad range of diversity efforts, comprising ethnic identities, religious diversity, cultural groups, and beyond.

Richard first joined Northeastern’s faculty in 2003, assuming leadership of the John D.O’Bryant African American Institute in 2007. In this role, Richard has built a multi-generational community of students, faculty, and staff. Richard’s commitment to inclusion and belonging extends beyond his work with the Institute. He has actively contributed to numerous university initiatives, including co-chairing the Black Faculty and Staff Association, sitting on the “Many Voices, One Northeastern” climate survey planning team, and participating on the Community Development Task Force.

Additionally, Richard serves as a Trustee at Roxbury Community College and Children Services of Roxbury and is a member of the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education. He continues to teach in the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and the College of Professional Studies. He is also an affiliated faculty member in Africana Studies, a research Associate in Northeastern’s Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, and a volunteer champion for the 125 Campaign.

Richard holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Studies from MIT and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering Systems from Howard University.

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