Kevin Leonard

Biography

Dr. Leonard is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, his Anishinaabe name is Waabishka Ma’iingan (White Wolf) and his clan is Migizi (Eagle). He currently serves as Senior Associate Director of the Multicultural Business Programs (MBP) in the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University.  His areas of expertise are in the recruitment and retention of undergraduate and graduate students, the impact of cross racial interaction on racial perceptions, university admissions, diversity, equity and inclusion, and building relationships with tribal communities.  Dr. Leonard has over 23 years of experience working in the recruitment and retention of Native American, African American, and Latinx students first as an admissions Officer for the MSU Office of Admissions, then as Director of Admissions for Olivet College, and since 2005 as Senior Program Coordinator for MBP.

He possesses three degrees from Michigan State University, including a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Business and a master’s and PhD in Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education.  Dr. Leonard provides business- and business-related major students’ academic and career advising support. In addition to assisting in the coordination of the Summer Business Institute (a week long business boot camp for incoming freshman) he serves as Director of the Native American Business Institute (Pre-College Program) which brings 40+ Native American youth from through the US and Michigan to campus each summer to expose them to college and career opportunities in business. Dr. Leonard coordinates the MBP Tutorial Program which employers 15 tutors and serves over 250 students a semester. He also serves as Treasurer for EAGLE (Native American Faculty/Staff Association), Affiliated Academic Faculty/Specialist for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, as a Member of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council Native Engagement Committee, and as an Executive Board member of CoREM (Coalition of Racial and Ethnic Minorities).