Heather M. Kind-Keppel, EdD

Dr. Heather Kind-Keppel is the Executive Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Deputy Title IX Officer at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. In her role at RFUMS, Kind-Keppel is engaged in the development of training and education initiatives for students, faculty, and staff while supporting the Assistant Director of Inclusion Programs.  At RFUMS her faculty appointment is in the Chicago Medical School but has also taught undergraduate courses in Ethnic Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, and Communication.  Kind-Keppel has always been passionate about actively advocating for, the creation of, and sustaining inclusive environments in higher education both in and outside of the classroom through her diversity, equity, and inclusion work. Her research and scholarship has focused on the experience of Natives in higher education and how institutions can more effectively create spaces that are Indigenous versus the continued use of education as a way to perpetuate assimilation.  Kind-Keppel has also advocated throughout her career for the narratives of Natives to be infused into both curriculum and social justice initiatives.  Kind-Keppel has a Doctorate in Education, Master of Science in Counseling, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, a Bachelor of Arts in History.