Dr. Maurice Stinnett to be Indiana Tech’s 2020 commencement speaker
February 17, 2020
Dr. Maurice A. Stinnett will be Indiana Tech’s commencement speaker during the university’s annual commencement celebration on Saturday, May 9, 2020 at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne.
Dr. Stinnett is an experienced leader and expert in the areas of diversity, inclusion, and equity across nonprofit, education and corporate sectors. He recently served as the keynote speaker at Indiana Tech’s 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration event. Dr. Stinnett serves as the inaugural vice president of diversity and inclusion for BSE Global, which owns and operates state-of-the-art venues, such as the Barclays Center, and premier sports franchises, including the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. In his role at BSE Global, he creates innovative programming tailored for inclusion and cultural competence and provides leadership and support across BSE’s brands. Dr. Stinnett was the first black man appointed vice president of diversity and inclusion for an NBA team.
Dr. Stinnett’s prior experience includes roles in higher education and nonprofit leadership. He previously served as vice president of engagement and chief diversity officer at Cleveland State University, where he successfully led the institution’s response to a university crisis that received national attention and ignited debates regarding the distinction between free speech and hate speech. Prior to joining CSU, his experience included serving as dean of students at Central State University, as the senior director of community engagement and education at CentroNia, a multicultural, bilingual education nonprofit located in Washington, DC; and as chairman for the World Leadership Program, a White House initiative under the Obama administration that sought to spark learning and dialogue between graduate students and universities in the Middle East and the United States.
Dr. Stinnett is an energetic presenter who is a fierce advocate for equity and inclusion. He has been recognized for his work by various organizations, including receiving the Robinson Trailblazer Award from Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition and being named to the ‘The Responsible 100’ corporate leaders list by City & State New York. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Central State University, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master of Education and Doctor of Education and Organizational Leadership from Columbia University.
“On behalf of the entire Indiana Tech community, I’m proud to welcome Dr. Stinnett as our 2020 commencement speaker,” Indiana Tech president Karl Einolf said. “Dr. Stinnett is an impactful leader whose work and experiences are a clear demonstration to all of our students of what it means to live a life of significance and worth. His story and commitment to community will be an inspiration to each of our graduates.”
Dr. Stinnett will speak during the university’s undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9, at 10:30 a.m., at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. The ceremony is free and open to all Indiana Tech students, families, alumni and the public—no tickets are required. Dr. Stinnett will also take part in the university’s graduate commencement ceremony for master’s and Ph.D. graduates on Friday, May 8, on the Indiana Tech campus.