Bwann Kellie Gwann is the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) for Talent and Inclusion at WPI. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of DEIB, Bwann oversees the Inclusive Excellence Employee Resource Groups (IIERGs), the Diversity Advocate (DA) program, and facilitates several DEIB related trainings and events for members of the WPI community.  

Prior to her arrival at WPI, Bwann served as the Director of Multicultural Affairs and Social Inclusion at Lesley University. She developed countless programs for learning and engagement for faculty, students, and staff centered on inclusion, belonging, equity, and justice during her ten-year tenure. As the former chair of the Lesley University Diversity Council, she worked closely with faculty and staff to understand their concerns on campus and worked with university administrators to address issues raised by the campus community. Her leadership resulted in her appointment to the University administrative leadership team to develop strategies for institutional change. 

Bwann also served as the Interim Executive Director for Urban Scholars Initiative (USI), a Lesley University access program for first-generation college students who come from underserved communities. This program provided opportunities for students to not only receive academic coaching, but also life coaching throughout the duration of their undergraduate student journey. She designed a weeklong student immersion experience, also known as the USI Summer Transition Week, to academically and socially prepare students for their first year on campus. Her ability to establish relationships with 17 community-based organizations throughout the Greater Boston/Cambridge area has led to increased student enrollment. Bwann also developed a “Dual Phase Out” transition program for graduating seniors seeking to either enter the labor force or transition to graduate degree program.

Bwann holds a Master in Business Administration, with a concentration in Leadership from Bentley University. In the Fall of 2023, Bwann began her doctoral student journey in the Organizational Change in Leadership online program in the Rossier School of Education, located at the University of Southern California. 

Outside of her professional pursuits, Bwann is an active member in the City of Malden, Massachusetts community. Currently, she serves as a Board member of the Racial Equity Commission where she has partnered with elected officials to drive city government-wide diversity and racial equity initiatives. Bwann has also partnered with the Malden Chamber of Commerce on its outreach efforts to recruit diverse businesses, this includes: BIPOC, veteran, and women-owned businesses to the City of Malden. Additionally, she served as the board chair for the Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission of Malden and was a former member of the YWCA of Malden.