She has more than 15 years of experience developing and assessing diversity programs and initiatives.
Rhea Roper Nedd, PhD, MA, who has more than 15 years of experience developing and assessing diversity programs and initiatives, has joined the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) as assistant vice president of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
Roper Nedd will support Diane Forbes Berthoud, PhD, MA, chief equity, diversity, and inclusion officer and vice president, and the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in leading key aspects of the diversity strategic planning and implementation processes. UMB launched its inaugural diversity strategic plan in November 2023. Other responsibilities for Roper Nedd, who started in her role Oct. 7, will include partnering to build assessment and implementation efforts throughout UMB.
“I am excited to welcome Dr. Roper Nedd to Team EDI and UMB. She brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning and building impactful programs and initiatives both at Towson University and the University of Maryland, College Park [UMCP], and the University System of Maryland [USM],” Forbes Berthoud said. “She will be a tremendous asset in our work to advance EDI at UMB.”
Throughout her career, Roper Nedd has worked closely with students, faculty, staff, and community partners across USM to develop academic and social support networks for diverse and underserved student populations.
Most recently, Roper Nedd served as director of the Center for Student Diversity at Towson University, where she led the development of identity-based programs for students, faculty, and staff of African American, Asian Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and Desi American, Latine/x, LGBTQ+, and adult learner populations. She also was responsible for developing the center’s short- and long-term goals based on the university’s strategic plan and diversity strategic plan.
She previously worked at UMCP for more than 10 years as the diversity officer for the College of Undergraduate Studies and as a Diversity & Inclusion Taskforce lead, convening faculty and staff for diversity workshops and trainings on inclusive practices in administrative and academic systems and program development.
At UMCP, she also served as director of the McNair Scholars Program, Academic Achievement Programs, where she managed, developed, and coordinated all academic program operations to support low-income, first-generation students and students underrepresented in higher education to prepare them for doctoral studies. As assistant director of UMCP’s Upward Bound Program, Pre-College Programs, she developed academic programs, course curricula, and workshops based on intake assessments and performance trends of low-income and first-generation students and their academic and social needs.
Roper Nedd has developed, assessed, and implemented strategic plans and diversity strategic plans in academic and administrative units as well as for nonprofit organizations. She has served as a committee lead and/or reviewer for the 2020-2025 Towson University Diversity Strategic Plan; 2022 USM Strategic Plan, as the Governance Committee chair for the USM Women’s Forum; 2022 College of Undergraduate Studies Diversity Strategic Plan at UMCP; 2022 Literacy Council of Montgomery County Strategic Plan; and 2018 Maryland Executive Council of Educational Opportunity Strategic Plan.
Roper Nedd has been an adjunct faculty member in political science at Towson and Howard universities.
She earned her PhD from Howard University in political science-international relations with a focus on educational development for marginalized populations; her Master of Arts in political science-international relations from Catholic University of America; and her Bachelor of Arts in government and politics from UMCP.