Kevin Cokley, African American psychologist, scholar, professor and ardent defender and uplifter of Black people, will speak about the current state of diversity, equity and inclusion during a “Fireside Chat” at noon February 26 in Guyon Auditorium at Morris Library. Cokley, who earned his doctorate in counseling and psychological services from Georgia State University, is associate chair for diversity initiatives and space management and university diversity and social transformation professor of psychology at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.

Cokley’s research, community service, publication and academic career and other works have earned him a variety of awards, including Distinguished Psychologist Award from the Association of Black Psychologists, Top 25 Essential Black Voices on Mental Health and Wellness by Relevant magazine, Innovators and Trailblazers Scholar from the Graduate Mentoring Center at Indiana University and others. He strives to assure that people of African descent and their work are recognized as central rather than marginal to human civilization.